"I really do not see that that need concern you," he said, after his usual pause. "In fact, I thought we had settled to dismiss such matters for me to manage as I choose. You consented to be on my board. As a business matter, I am quite willing to give you this sum in return for your services. Now, the shareholders would not, I think, rate you at that figure. Shareholders know nothing about business; I do."
"How unappreciated I have been all these years!" he said. "I think I shall put an advertisement in the Times: 'A blameless Marquis is willing to be a director of anything for a suitable remuneration.'"
Mr. Alington held up his hand, a gesture frequent with him.
"Ah! that I should object to very strongly," he said. "Consider your remuneration a retaining fee, if you like, but we must keep our directors exclusive. I cannot have you joining any threepenny concern that may be going about, or, indeed, any concern at all. Carmel--you belong to Carmel," he said thoughtfully.
Jack took a copy of the Mining Weekly from the table.
"Have you seen this?" he asked. "There is a column about the Carmel mines, all most favourable, and written, I should say, by someone who knows."
Mr. Alington did not appear particularly interested.
"I am glad they have put it in this week," he said. "They promised to make an effort."
"You have seen it? Don't you think it is good?"
"I wrote it--practically, at least, I wrote it. The City editor, at any rate, was kind enough to write it under my suggestions--I might say under my dictation."
"One can't have too many friends," observed Conybeare.
"Well, I can hardly call him a friend. I never set eyes on him till two days ago, and then he was more an enemy. He called and tried to blackmail me."
"My dear Alington, what have you been doing?" asked Jack.
"He tried to blackmail me not because I had been doing anything, but because I had not done something--because I had not offered him shares, in fact; but I squared that very easily."
"Of course. He was comparatively cheap, and he became like Balaam. He came to curse, and he went away blessing me and the mine, and Australia and you, with a small cheque in his pocket and copious notes for this article to which you have been referring."