A MATTER OF NERVE Edgar Wallace Reprinted as "The Nerve Of Tony Newton" in The Thriller, 20 Jul !

"# $nthony Newton was a soldier at eighteen% at twenty&eight he was a 'eggar of favours, a patient waiter in outer offices, a (ore or less (ee) respondent to *uestionnaires which 'ore a re(ar)a'le rese('lance one to the other+ ,What e-perience have you., ,What salary would you re*uire., There were si- other *uestions, all (ore or less uni(portant, 'ut all designed to prove that a /u'lic 0chool education and a record of (inor herois(s were poor or no *ualification for any 1o' that produced a living wage and the (ini(u( of interest, unless the applicant was in a position to deposit fa'ulous su(s for the purchase of partnerships, secretaryships and agencies+ $nd invaria'ly2 ,3 a( afraid, 4r Newton, we haven,t a place for you at the (o(ent, 'ut if you will leave your address, we will co((unicate with you 1ust as soon as so(ething co(es along+, Tony Newton struggled through eight years of odd 1o's+ 5is gratuity had 'een a'sor'ed in a poultry far( which as every'ody )nows, is a very si(ple (ethod of (a)ing (oney+ 3n theory+ $nd at the end of the eighth year he discussed the situation with hi(self and so'erly elected for 'rigandage of a safe and (ore or less uno'1ectiona'le variety+ 5is final decision was ta)en on a certain (orning+ 4rs 6ran'oyle, his landlady, presented a 'ill and an ulti(atu(+ The 'ill was fa(iliar 7the ulti(atu(, not altogether une-pected, was 'oth novel and alar(ing+ 5e loo)ed at his landlady thoughtfully, and his good&loo)ing face wore an unaccusto(ed e-pression of dou't+ $s for 4rs 6ran'oyle, a solid, stout wo(an with a flinty eye and a large, deter(ined chin, she was very definitely 'eyond any )ind of dou't whatever+ $nthony heaved a sigh, and his ga8e wandered fro( his landlady,s face to the various features of his s(all and co(fortless roo(+ 9ro( the )no''ly 'ed to the ,What is ho(e without a (other., :a (asterpiece of ;er(an lithographic art< a'ove the 'ed 'oard, to the ,$ll we li)e sheep have gone astray, a'ove the (antelpiece, to the two china dogs thereon, to the s)i(py little hearth&rug 'efore the polished and fireless grate, and then 'ac) to 4rs 6ran'oyle+ ,=ou can,t e-pect (e to )eep you, 4r Newton,, she said significantly, not for the first ti(e that (orning+ ,5ush,, said $nthony testily+ ,3 a( thin)ing+, 4rs 6ran'oyle shivered+ ,3 have wor)ed very hard for all 3,ve got,, she went on, ,and a young (an li)e you should )now 'etter than to i(pose upon a widow who doesn,t )now where her ne-t pound is co(ing fro(7, ,=ou,ve got seven hundred and fifty pounds in ;overn(ent >onds, two hundred and fifty in the /ost Office, and a deposit account at the ?ondon and 4anchester >an) of nearly five hundred pounds,, said $nthony cal(ly, and 4rs 6ran'oyle gasped+ ,What7how7, she sta((ered+

,3 was loo)ing through your pass'oo),, e-plained $nthony without sha(e+ ,=ou left it in the drawing&roo( one day, and 3 spent a very pleasant afternoon e-a(ining it+, 9or a (o(ent 4rs 6ran'oyle was incapa'le of speech+ ,Well, you,ve got a chee)@, she gasped at last+ ,$nd that settles it@ =ou leave (y house today+, ,Aery good,, said $nthony with a shrug+ ,3,ll go along and find other roo(s, and 3,ll send a (an for (y luggage+, ,0end the si- wee)s, rent you owe,, said 4rs 6ran'oyle, ,or don,t trou'le to send at all+ 3f you thin) 3,( going to )eep a house open for a ga('ling, good&for&nothing7, $nthony raised his hand with so(e dignity+ ,=ou are spea)ing to one of your country,s defenders,, he said, loftily, ,one who has endured the terrific strain of war, one who, whilst you slept snug in your 'ed, was dithering through the snow, the sleet, the slush, the fog and the gunfire+ $lways re(e('er that, 4rs 6ran'oyle+ =ou can,t 'e sufficiently than)ful to (en li)e (e+, 5e glared at her+ ,Where would you 'e if the ;er(ans had won., 4rs 6ran'oyle was *uite incapa'le of speech+ 0he wanted to re(ind hi(, for the third ti(e, of the (anner in which he had wasted his su'stance, 'ut he saved her the trou'le+ ,=ou tell (e 3 a( a ga('ler,, he said+ ,3t is true that 3 'ac)ed 5old Tight for the 0heppey 5andicap% how true it is, you, who spend your spare ti(e in ru((aging a(ongst (y papers, )now only too well+ =our curiosity will 'e your ruin+, 5e loo)ed out of the window and pic)ed up his hat+ 4rs 6ran'oyle was incapa'le of co((ent+ 0he (et his stern ga8e with the stare of a hypnotised ra''it+ ,The least you can do for (e, 4rs 6ran'oyle,, he said sternly, ,is to lend (e ten shillings, which will 'e repaid in the course of the ne-t few hours+, The landlady ca(e out of her trance, violently+ ,Not ten pence7not ten farthings@, ,=our country,s defender,, (ur(ured $nthony+ ,/eople li)e you turn us e-&soldiers into anarchists+, ,3f you threaten (e, 3,ll send for the police,, 'awled 4rs 6ran'oyle+ 5e wal)ed 'ac) to the dressing&ta'le, 'rushed his hair carefully, too) up his hat again and put it fir(ly on his head+ ,3 will send for (y luggage this afternoon,, he said so'erly+ 0he was (uttering incoherent and (enacing sounds as he wal)ed slowly down the stairs% he realised that the crisis of his life was at hand+ That he was going forth into a hard and unsy(pathetic world, with si- copper coins in his poc)et, and the )nowledge that he had yet to earn his 'oard and his 'ed, worried $nthony not at all+ 5e stepped forth into the spring sunlight with a 1oyous sense of physical well&'eing and strolled up the su'ur'an street with the carefree air of one who has no worries+ $n e-&lieutenant in the >litheshire 9usiliers, e-&secretary to the verita'le 4r 5oad, of 5oad and Evans :$nthony invaria'ly referred to the( as ,Odds and Evens,, and cherished no (alice in his heart against the spluttering and apoplectic 4r 5oad, who had fired hi(<, he )new that the nor(al sources of inco(e which, at the 'est, had produced 'ut a tric)ling strea(, were now dried up+ 5e had 'een fighting when he should have 'een receiving training and his succession of odd 1o's de(onstrated the futility of a pu'lic

school training and a (ilitary career as a (eans of ac*uiring steady or lucrative e(ploy(ent+ $nd as $nthony swung on to a 'us and paid three of those si- re(aining coppers of his to the conductor, he had thoroughly (ade up his (ind that the oyster of life was not to 'e opened either 'y sword or song+ 5e spent the (orning at the National ;allery, which had ever 'een a source of inspiration to hi(, and ca(e out at the hunger hour, singularly deficient in ideas+ 5e was fa(ished, for he was healthy and young and his 'rea)fast had consisted of two hard slices of 'read, (eagrely 'uttered and a cup of 4rs 6ran'oyle,s i(possi'le tea+ $ police(an saw hi( standing a'out on the corner of Trafalgar 0*uare and decided, fro( his air of indecision, that he was a country or colonial visitor, for $nthony affected soft felt hats, grey and large&'ri((ed, and he invaria'ly appeared to 'e well dressed+ ,$re you loo)ing for so(ething, sir., as)ed the consta'le+ ,3 want to )now where 3 can get a good lunch,, said $nthony, truthfully+ ,=ou ought to go to the /allateriu(+ $ gentle(an told (e yesterday that that was the 'est place in ?ondon+, ,Than) you, consta'le,, said $nthony gratefully, and to the /allateriu( he went, for $nthony had faith+ 5e strolled carelessly into the 'road vesti'ule which was crowded with people, the (a1ority of who( were waiting either for guests or hosts, and seated hi(self in a deep ar(chair, stretching his legs lu-uriously+ $nd fro( the swing door of the restaurant ca(e a fragrant aro(a of food+ 5e watched the greetings 'etween apologetic late arrivals and hypocritical and patient guests% he saw the little fa(ily parties drift in and pass into the gilded heaven 'eyond the glass doors, 'ut he saw no'ody that he )new+ /resently four stout people ca(e in, two (en and two wo(en+ They were e-pensively dressed, and they were o'viously ladies and gentle(en who would not lie awa)e on hard 'eds that night, wondering how they (ight scrounge a good 'rea)fast+ 5e watched the( as they, too, went past into the restaurant, and sighed+ ,Now, if 3 were only7, he 'egan, and suddenly an idea occurred to hi(+ 5e waited for another ten (inutes then, rising slowly, he handed his hat to the cloa)roo( attendant and passed into the restaurant+ 5e saw the four stout people at a ta'le at the far end of the long roo(% ne-t to the( was a s(all unoccupied ta'le+ The elder of the two (en loo)ed up at the sight of a very respecta'le figure+ ,=es, sir., he as)ed+ $nthony 'ent down and lowered his voice, 'ut it was not so low that all four (e('ers of the party could not hear+ ,?ord Rothside says he is awfully sorry he can,t co(e, 'ut will you lunch with hi( instead, at >er)eley 0*uare., ,Eh., said the staggered recipient of this invitation+ ,=ou are 4r 0teiner, aren,t you., said $nthony, in a tone of apprehension, as though it were 'eginning to dawn upon hi( that he had (ade a (ista)e+ ,No, sir,, said the fat and s(iling 5e'rew, ,(y na(e is ;oldhei(+ 3 a( afraid you,ve (ade a (ista)e+, $nthony uttered a ,tut, of i(patience+ ,3,( awfully sorry, 'ut the fact is 3 have never (et 4r 0teiner, and 3 )new he was lunching here, and7, 5e 'ro)e off in confusion+

,No offence, 3,( sure,, said the nattered gentle(an+ ,3 don,t )now 4r 0teiner (yself, or 3 would point hi( out+, 5e chuc)led round at his co(panions+ ,3,ve only 'een (ista)en for a friend of ?ord Rothside,s, that,s all,, he said, not without en1oy(ent+ ,3,ll wait for hi(,, s(iled $nthony, apologetically+ ,3 can,t tell you how sorry 3 a( to have interrupted you+, 5e sat down at the ne-t ta'le% and when the waiter 'ustled up2 ,3 a( not ordering anything, yet,, he said+ ,3 a( e-pecting a gentle(an+, $t the ne-t ta'le the lunch proceeded and $nthony writhed in agony+ /resently one of the party loo)ed round+ ,4r 0teiner hasn,t co(e yet, has he., he as)ed unnecessarily+ $nthony shoo) his head+ ,3,ll wait,, he said, ,though it is rather a nuisance+ 3 a( losing (y lunch+, There was another interregnu( of clattering )nives and for)s, and then2 ,Won,t you 1oin us, 4r7., ,Newton is (y na(e,, said $nthony, ,and really, 3 don,t thin) it is fair to i(pose (yself upon you+, >ut 'efore he had finished the sentence, he was sitting with the(, and in five (inutes had given his opinion on an e-cellent Niersteiner+ ,$re you ?ord Rothside,s secretary., ,Not e-actly his secretary,, said $nthony, with a little s(ile+ 5e conveyed the i(pression that the *uestion had 'een in the nature of a fau- pas, and that the position he occupied was so(ething infinitely superior to secretaryship+ 0o (ight Napoleon have loo)ed if, in the days of the directorate, he had 'een as)ed if he was a (e('er of the ;overn(ent+ The two wo(en were nice&loo)ing (otherly ladies, with that sense of hu(our which $nthony was 'est a'le to titillate+ 5e set the ta'le in chuc)les as he struggled (anfully to overta)e the(+ >y the ti(e the coffee stage was reached he was level2 he s(o)ed one of 4r ;oldhei(,s cigars with the air of a connoisseur+ ,3t is strange (eeting you li)e this,, said $nthony re(iniscently+ ,3 shall never forget the first ti(e 3 dined with the Bu)e of 4inford+ 3 dropped in (ost une-pectedly, had never (et hi( 'efore, never 'een introduced, didn,t )now hi( fro( $da(+, 5ere, $nthony spo)e nothing 'ut the truth, for he had ,dropped in, when 5is ;race was lying at the 'otto( of a shell&hole in 9rance, and they had dined upon a 'iscuit and a 'ar of chocolate+ ,=ou,re in the 6ity, 3 suppose 4r Newton., ,3,( everywhere,, said $nthony, vaguely+ ,3 have a place in the 6ity, of course, 'ut 3 have only recently returned fro( a'road+, 4r ;oldhei( s(iled at hi( slyly+ ,4ade a lot of (oney, eh., ,=es, 3,ve (ade a lot of (oney+, ,0outh $frica., 3t was $nthony,s turn to s(ile, 'ut $nthony s(iled cryptically+ 3t neither ad(itted nor denied 0outh $frica+ 3t was a s(ile which stood as well for the $rgentine, 6hicago or 0outh $(erica+ ,The truth is, 3 don,t )now ?ondon very well,, he ad(itted+ $ll the ti(e he was wondering who were the three *uiet, (iddle&aged (en at the ne-t ta'le, who spo)e a little, 'ut who gave hi( the i(pression that they were listening

intently+ The first ti(e he noticed the(, he realised that they had heard al(ost every word he had spo)en, fro( his first (ention of the great (aster of finance% and he felt a (o(entary disco(fort+ $nd yet they did not appear to 'e listening+ The (an with the 'ig red face, who was nearest to hi(, see(ed utterly a'sor'ed in the (eal he was eating+ They (ight have 'een prosperous far(ers in ?ondon for the day, or successful north country (ill owners+ 0oon after, 4r ;oldhei( called for the 'ill, tipped the waiter e-travagantly :$nthony,s pal( itched to ta)e 'ac) one of the half&crowns<, and the party strolled 'ac) into the vesti'ule+ $nthony was the first to hand his chec) to the cloa)roo( attendant% and the official accepted 4r ;oldhei(,s tip as for the whole of the party+ ,6an we drop you anywhere., as)ed that gentle(an+ ,3f you could put (e down at the Rit8&6arlton,, $nthony hesitated, ,that is, if it is not out of your way+, 3t was not out of their way, for the theatre where they were spending the afternoon was ne-t door to the hotel+ 5e stood for a (o(ent in the entrance of the hotel waving farewell to his 'enefactors and then strolled into the reception hall+ ,3 want a 'edroo( and a sitting&roo(,, said $nthony+ 5e had not the slightest intention of going to the Rit8 or to any other hotel% 'ut it see(ed such an hotel as a 'rigand, at sudden war with society, would choose for his head*uarters+ ,3 will 'ring (y 'aggage in later,, he said, ,'ut re(e('er, 3 (ust have a roo( overloo)ing The 4all+, ,What na(e, sir., $nthony signed the 'oo) with a flourish, and 'efore the reception cler) could hint gently that roo(s could not 'e reserved for 'aggageless visitors without a deposit, $nthony was en*uiring the e-act location of the nearest 'ranch of the 5ardware Trust >an), of New =or)+ ,3f you turn to the right when you go out of the entrance, sir, and then turn to the right again, you will find the Trust 6o(pany on the left,, said the cler)+ ,3t is custo(ary in engaging roo(s7, and then ca(e a welco(e interruption+ $ hand fell on $nthony,s shoulder, and he turned to loo) into the s(iling eyes of a 'ig 1ovial (an, whose tanned face spo)e of an open air life+ ,3sn,t this 4r Newton., he as)ed, wonder and hope in his voice+ $nthony too) a step 'ac), and then thrust out his hand+ ,>y Jove, 3 don,t )now your na(e, 'ut 3 re(e('er you so well+, ,John 9renchan, of 9renchan and 6arter+ =ou re(e('er (y store in 6ape Town., ,Re(e('er@, said $nthony ecstatically, and shoo) the (an,s hand+ ,$s if 3 could forget it@ 3 can,t *uite recall where 3 (et you, 'ut 3 )now your na(e as well as (y own+, 5e turned fro( the des)% the cler),s face 'ore a loo) of resignation+ $uto(atically he placed a roo( nu('er against 4r Newton,s na(e% in his private register he wrote ,No 'aggage+ OC. The *uestion (ar) against ,OC, was (ore than 1ustified+ $nthony,s new friend led the way to the lounge, where the coffee and cigar parties were sitting+ $ waiter ca(e forward e-pectantly, and spun a chair+

,=ou,ve had your lunch. Join (e in a cup of coffee,, said 4r 9renchan+ ,Bid you co(e over 'y 'oat., ,=es, on the >al(oral 6astle,, said $nthony+ 3n his capacity of secretary to 5oad and Evans, a fir( which conducted an e-tensive shipping 'usiness, he was ac*uainted not only with the ships of the 6astle line, 'ut )new 'y repute the na(e of 9renchans+ They were a(ongst the 'iggest agricultural i(ple(ent i(porters at the 6ape+ $lso he was interested in shipping news, and he had noted the arrival of the (ail+ ,3 thought 3 recognised you in the restaurant,, nodded 4r 9renchan% ,3n fact 3 was sure@, ,5uh., said $nthony+ Now he re(e('ered the three (en who had sat at the ne-t ta'le+ ,Why, of course@ 3 spotted you and couldn,t place you+, ,3 suppose you (ade a lot of (oney in 0outh $frica, li)e the rest of us., 4r 9renchan resented his own share of good fortune if his tone (eant anything+ ,3t,s easy enough to (a)e73 was happier when 3 was earning a few pounds a wee)+ 4oney. >ah@, $nthony, who had never had enough (oney to ,'ah@, at, was a little shoc)ed+ ,=es, 3 (ade a'out forty thousand pounds,7he shrugged his shoulders to inti(ate the a'surdity of descri'ing so insignificant a su( as ,(oney,+ ,>ut 3 wasn,t in $frica very long+, 4r 9renchan loo)ed at hi( with a new interest+ $s the representative of capital, Tony was a possi'ility7as a capitalist, he was a proposition+ ,Bo you )now the ;oldhei(s very well. 3 saw you were lunching with the(+, ,3 don,t )now the( very well,, said Tony, realising that this was a (o(ent for candour+ ,3n fact, 3 (et the( (ore or less 'y accident+, ,0(art fellow, ;oldhei(,, (editated the other, e-a(ining his cigar+ ,5e,s in oil7worth a (illion+ 4ay'e two (illions+, ,Bear 4e@, said Tony, and to (a)e conversation and at the sa(e ti(e secure a little data, he as)ed2 ,$re you in ?ondon for long., ,9or three or four (onths,, said the other with a gri(ace of dissatisfaction+ ,3 shouldn,t 'e here at all if (y poor foolish 'rother hadn,t died+, $nthony wondered whether it was the folly or the poverty of the departed 4r 9renchan which so ruffled his host+ 6ertainly one or the other annoyed hi(, for he was scowling+ ,$ (an has no right,, he e-ploded suddenly, ,no right whatever to indulge in eccentric charities+ When a (an (a)es a will he should dispose of his property so that it does not hold his relatives up to ridicule, conte(pt or (alice+ Envy7yes+ >ut not conte(pt+, $nthony agreed+ The hard faced (an was 'lin)ing indignantly+ The (e(ory of his 'rother,s folly apparently stirred all that was uncharita'le in his nature+ 5is underlip thrust out aggressively+ ,3f he wants to leave a thousand to the 0toc)well Orphanage, and a thousand to the ?ondon 5ospital, and ten thousand to the 5o(e for /roviding >a'ies with 9alse Teeth, let hi( do it@ /ersonally, 3 never wanted a farthing of his (oney, neither 3 nor (y fa(ily+, 9ro( which lofty declaration of disinterestedness, $nthony gathered that the late 4r 9renchan had not left his 'rother anything+ ,What 6hurch do you attend, 4r Newton., he as)ed une-pectedly, and $nthony, for a (o(ent, was ta)en a'ac)+

,/ri(itive 4ethodist,, he said+ 3f $nthony was attached to any sect at all, it was towards /ri(itive 4ethodis(, the church to which he had 'een dragged every 0unday (orning as a child+ The effect upon 4r 9renchan was electrical+ 5e sat 'ac) in his chair and stared at the young (an for fully a (inute+ ,Well, that,s a (ost re(ar)a'le coincidence,, he said, slowly+ ,=ou,re the first /ri(itive 4ethodist 3 have (et in this country@, $nthony was (ore than a little astonished+ /ri(itive 4ethodis( ac*uired a new i(portance+ Never had he i(agined this sect of his could provide anything in the nature of a sensation+++ $l(ost his heart war(ed to the 'ric) chapel of his youth+ What particular significance lay in the fact, 4r 9renchan went on to e-plain+ ,4y 'rother Walter was a 'it of a cran)+ 3 a( not saying that /ri(itive 4ethodis( is a cran)y )ind of religion, 'ut Walter carried it to an e-tre(e+ 5e e(ployed nearly two thousand hands in his 'usiness, and, if you 'elieve (e, sir, no'ody had a chance of a 1o' with Walter unless he was a /ri(itive 4ethodist+ 3t is a fine religion, 3 daresay% personally 3 don,t )now very (uch a'out it+ >ut you (ight say that Walter lived for the church, and was so 'igoted that he could see no good in any other )ind of worship+ Now, 3 a( sure, 4r Newton, that you, as a (an of the world, do not agree that that was an intelligent view to ta)e., $nthony (ur(ured his co(plete disagree(ent+ ,$nd 'ecause he held these eccentric views,, 4r 9renchan went on 'itterly, ,he has put (e to (ore trou'le than any'ody else has ever put (e to in (y life+ 3 said to (y lawyer2 "$( 3 to sit here in ?ondon, year after year, loo)ing out for cases of poverty a(ongst /ri(itive 4ethodists, in order to carry out the provisions of Walter,s will. 3,ll 'e dashed if 3 do@", 5e grew al(ost choleric, swallowed the re(ainder of his coffee savagely+ There was a peculiar glitter in his eyes that at first alar(ed and then encouraged his co(panion+ ,Will you have a li*ueur., he as)ed suddenly+ $nthony nodded+ ,3 should li)e you to (eet (y lawyer2 he is a (an after your own heart, a shrewd (an of the world, a little suspicious, 'ut 3 don,t thin) that any har( in a lawyer+ =ou pro'a'ly )now the fir(, Whipplewhite, 0u((ers and 0oa(es+, $nthony nodded+ 5e had never heard of a fir( of lawyers called Whipplewhite, 0u((ers and 0oa(es, 'ut it sounded very (uch li)e a fir( of lawyers+ 5e )new there was a fir( called >ennett, Wilson, 4oss, >ennett and Wilson, and he had heard of another fir( called Jones, 5iggins, 4arsh, Walter, Johnson, dar) and 5iggins, and he was *uite prepared to accept so si(ple a thing as a triple alliance+ 4r 9renchan loo)ed at his watch+ ,3 wonder if 3 could catch hi(., he said+ ,=ou,d 'e delighted with hi(+ $ dour 0cots(an, (ind you, 'ut a (an with a heart of gold+ 5e loo)s upon every'ody as a potential cri(inal+, 5e chuc)led to hi(self, and shoo) his head+ ,3 don,t )now that that is a 'ad thing in a lawyer,, he reflected+ ,3t is a very e-cellent *uality, and very (uch rese('les the attitude of (y own solicitor towards hu(anity,, said $nthony sedately+ ,$fter all, lawyers are cautious souls, and the first ele(ent of caution is suspicion+, 4r 9renchan got up+

,6o(e along+ ?et us see if we can find hi(+ 5e is usually to 'e run to earth in the neigh'ourhood of the ?aw 6ourts a'out this ti(e and 3,d li)e you to (eet hi(+, The reception cler), who loo)ed at hi( with pleading eyes as he passed, $nthony ignored+ 3t was not desira'le that the sordid *uestion of deposits should 'e (entioned 'efore his opulent friend+ 4r 9renchan called a ca', and they drove down the 0trand, halting at the 'road entrance of the Royal 6ourts of Justice+ ,5ere he is@, cried 4r 9renchan+ ,What a 'it of luc)@, $ thin, cadaverous (an, wearing a worried loo) and a 'lac) ho('urg, was standing on the steps of the 6ourts in a (editative attitude+ 5e had an e-pression of profound (elancholy and nodded curtly to 4r 9renchan+ 3t was easy to i(agine that he regarded the world as a sinful place+ 5e reviewed the throng that hurried past the gates with the 'asilis) glare of a thwarted e-ecutioner+ ,3 want you to (eet (y friend Newton, Whipplewhite,, said 9renchan, and the lawyer e-tended a cold hand+ ,6an you co(e along so(ewhere. 3 want to have a tal)+, 4r Whipplewhite shoo) his sad head+ ,3 a( afraid 3 can,t,, he said shortly+ ,3 have a case in 6ourt No+ D in half an hour+, ,Ru''ish@, said 4r 9renchan loudly+ ,=ou,ve got a counsel or whatever you call the fellow, haven,t you. 6o(e along+, 0till 4r Whipplewhite was reluctant+ ,3,d (uch rather not,, he said, and loo)ed at his watch+ ,3 can spare you five (inutes, 'ut 3 can,t go very far fro( the 6ourt+, ,We,ll find a teashop, so(ewhere% a cup of tea won,t hurt us, eh, 4r Newton., $nything to eat or drin) would have hurt $nthony very (uch at that (o(ent, 'ut he ac*uiesced, and in a di(ly lighted, po)ey little teashop, to which the gru('ling 4r Whipplewhite led the(, $nthony,s introduction was continued+ ,This is a young gentle(an 3 )new very well in 0outh $frica+ Newton 7you,ve heard (e spea) of hi(+, $nthony was still considera'ly pu88led+ That he was 'eing (ista)en for so(e'ody else, he had no dou't, 'ut he was patient+ The pro'le( of lunch had 'een settled, dinner see(ed a certainty, although he had less inclination for food than he had had for a long ti(e+ On one (atter he was perfectly satisfied% he would have to produce large and pretentious *uantities of 'aggage 'efore the sloe&eyed reception cler) would hand hi( the )ey of his suite+ That was a fact+ 4r 9renchan was a potential host 7though he would not have guessed it+ ,>y the way, 9renchan, 3,ve ta)en pro'ate of your 'rother,s will+ The net personalty is not si- hundred and forty thousand, 'ut five hundred and twelve, si- and nine&pence+, 4r 9renchan (ade a snarling noise+ ,3 wish it were si- and ninepence,, he said savagely, and the lawyer grunted i(patiently+ ,3 )now you thin) 3,( daft,, 4r 9renchan went on, ,'ut Walter and 3 were very good pals and, eccentric though his wishes are 3 intend carrying the( out+, ,Why not hand the (oney over to the church and let the( dispose of it., suggested the lawyer+ ,3t is the si(plest way, and will save you a lot of trou'le+ >esides, they )now (ore a'out their own people than you do+, 4r 9renchan shoo) his head+

,That would not 'e carrying out Walter,s wishes,, he said fir(ly+ ,5ow does the will run. "On the first day of January in every year, one& fifth of the residue of (y estate shall 'e placed in the hands of so(e responsi'le person for the purpose of distri'ution+", ,"On the second of January,", corrected the lawyer+ ,>ut you,ve got the will a little wrong, 4r 9renchan7it says that "one fifth of (y estate shall i((ediately7", ,Of course, of course+ $nd then the second fifth to 'e paid over on the 2nd January% 3 had forgotten that,, said 4r 9renchan+ The lawyer leant 'ac) and chewed a toothpic), his eyes ga8ing into vacancy+ ,What 3 want to )now is,, he said slowly, ,where are you going to find a respecta'le and responsi'le person to who( you can entrust these large su(s of (oney. There is no sense in 'eating a'out the 'ush, 9renchan+ 3f you,re going to underta)e the distri'ution, all well and good, 'ut how do you )now that this (oney is not going to pass into the hands of so(e co((on swindler. 3 )now what you are going to say,, he said, raising a protesting hand, ,that 3 shall always 'e around to see that the (oney is not 'eing put to an i(proper use2 'ut 3 a( a very 'usy (an and 3 couldn,t underta)e the responsi'ility of guaranteeing that every penny of your 'rother,s (oney goes to indigent /ri(itive 4ethodists+ 3t is a'surd to e-pect (e to do so+ What you want is a su'stantial (an who can 'e trusted i(plicitly, who has (oney of his own, and so(e sort of position+ 3n those circu(stances 3 should say go ahead, 'ut unless you find that (an, (y dear 9renchan, you (ust re(ain in England for the ne-t five years 7you (ay groan, 'ut 3 a( tal)ing practical co((on sense7and underta)e the dis'urse(ent of the (oney yourself+, ,That 3 cannot do,, said 4r 9renchan, e(phatically+ ,>esides, 3,( not a /ri(itive7'y ;eorge@, 5e loo)ed at $nthony+ ,This gentle(an is a /ri(itive 4ethodist+, ,=ou are not suggesting that you can place this heavy responsi'ility upon a young (an who is pro'a'ly (a)ing his way in the world, and either has not the, ti(e or the inclination towards philanthropic enterprises., $nthony listened in silence, wondering+++ a(a8ed+++ co(prehending+ ,Now, loo) here, Whipplewhite,, said 9renchan sharply+ ,3 can,t allow you to spea) in any way disparagingly of 4r Newton+ =ou have )nown (e for (any years, and you are aware that (y 1udg(ent is never at fault so far as hu(an nature is concerned+ 3 )now 4r Newton,s character al(ost as well as 3 )now yours+, ,3 agree that you are a pretty shrewd 1udge of (en,, said the other reluctantly, ,'ut here we are dealing with a fantastic, if 3 (ay say so, a stupid will, the provisions of which can only 'e carried out7, ,6an only 'e carried out 'y a (an of honour,, said 4r 9renchan shortly+ The lawyer shoo) his head+ ,5onour is all very well,, he said doggedly, ,'ut it is (oney that counts+ 3f this gentle(an has (oney7if he can show (e ten thousand pounds7, The heart of $nthony Newton was singing a hy(n of than)fulness, 'ut his voice was a little hus)y when he spo)e+ ,3f you will step round to (y 'an)ers7, he 'egan, and then2 ,3 don,t )now that 3 want to underta)e such a (ission, and please, 4r 9renchan, do not insist, 'ut if you are in any dou't as to (y financial sta'ility, and if you will co(e with (e to (y 'an) and see the (anager, 3 have no dou't he will put your (ind at rest+, ,What did 3 say., said 4r 9renchan triu(phantly+ ,Will you o'lige 4r Newton 'y wal)ing round to his 'an).,

,3 haven,t ti(e to go to any 'an)s,, snarled the lawyer+ ,3 told you 3 had a case+, 5e rose as he spo)e+ ,>ut if 4r Newton can, 'etween now and this evening, produce five thousand pounds, and can show (e that su( in his possession, then 3, as one of the trustees of your 'rother,s estate, will agree+, ,=ou are too da(ned particular,, said 9renchan angrily, ,and 3 a( not going to as) (y friend Newton to do anything so a'surd+, ,Not at all,, said $nthony politely+ ,3 *uite understand 4r Whipplewhite,s o'1ection, and if you will na(e a ti(e and a place, 3 shall 'e (ost happy to 'ring you five thousand pounds, though of course 3 a( not prepared to hand it over to you+, ,3 don,t want you to hand it to (e,, said 4r Whipplewhite sharply+ ,3 (erely want to see it+, $nthony 'reathed deeply+ ,There is 1ust ti(e to get to the 'an),, he said+ ,Now, where shall 3 (eet you., ,4eet (e at the 6a('rai Restaurant, Regent 0treet, at half&past seven+ 3 can,t get away 'efore+ Will that suit you, 9renchan., ,3 o'1ect to the whole proceeding,, said 4r 9renchan, who appeared to 'e considera'ly ruffled+ ,>ut if 4r Newton in his generosity agrees to your plan which is to (y (ind al(ost as eccentric as (y poor 'rother,s will, it is not for (e to o'1ect+, 3t was a *uarter to three when $nthony hurried fro( the coffee house+ 5e could have wished that he (ight, within view of his new&found friend, leap upon a ta-i and give spectacular orders, 'ut the truth was that he had not even a 'us fare+ 5e (ade his way on foot to the par), and strolled along the path loo)ing for discarded newspapers+ 5e found two, and, discovering a secluded seat, he sat down and carefully tore the newspapers into unifor( o'long slips, stac)ing the( one after the other into 'oth sides of his faded wallet until it was swollen+ 5e was so intent upon his wor) that he did not notice the presence of a (an who had approached across the grass, and now stood watching hi(+ ,4a)ing a collection of press cuttings., as)ed the voice and $nthony loo)ed round+ There was no reason for hi( to dou't the profession of his interrupter+ $nthony nodded cheerfully+ ,3 a( indeed,, he said+ ,What is the idea., said the (an, in a (ore official tone+ ,Each of these is a ten pound 'an)note,, said $nthony+ The (an sat down on a seat 'eside hi(+ ,3t al(ost sounds as if you and 3 were going to get 'etter ac*uainted,, he said+ ,3 ad(it it+ =ou,re an officer fro( 0cotland =ard, aren,t you., ,3 don,t )now how you guessed it, 'ut you,re nearer the truth than you,re ever li)ely to 'e+, ,$re there (any confidence gangs wor)ing in ?ondon 1ust now., ,There are a'out four,, said the officer+ ,5ow people get ta)en in 'y the( 3 don,t )now+ 3s so(e'ody after you., $nthony nodded+ ,Then you,re a fellow to )eep under o'servation,, said the detective with a(use(ent+ ,9or the ?ord,s sa)e, don,t,, replied $nthony in alar(+ ,Tell (e, what is their (odus operandi., ,6o(e again., said the detective as a (atter of principle+ ,What is their (ethod of wor)ing.,

,They,ve only got one (ethod,, said the other, ,and if you,ve (et the( you ought to )now all a'out the(+ They are generally people who have got (oney to distri'ute to the poor and needy+ 0o(e'ody leaves (oney for that purpose and they are loo)ing for an honest, respecta'le lad without 'rains to who( they can hand the (oney, without fear that he will 'lue it on cha(pagne and girls+, ,They are very unoriginal,, s(iled $nthony+ ,$s unoriginal as greed,, said the other, ,and it is the greed in hu(an nature that they wor) on+ 5ave they got you for a suc)er., $nthony nodded+ ,3 a( a young (an fro( 0outh $frica with great possessions,, he said, si(ply+ ,This evening 3 a( going to show the( five thousand pounds in order to prove (y 'ona fides+, The detective glanced at the poc)et 'oo)+ ,0ic ,e(@, he said, preparing to go+ ,$nd if they give you any trou'le afterwards, here,s (y card+, $t half past seven that night, $nthony )ept his appoint(ent+ 5e found the lawyer already waiting for hi(, reading the evening newspaper, a s(all glass of a'sinthe 'efore hi(+ ,$ pernicious drin), 4r Newton,, he said, ,'ut 3 find it is very 'eneficial+ 3 suffer fro( indigestion+ 3 suppose you haven,t seen 4r 9renchan., $nthony shoo) his head+ ,$ strange (an, a very trusting (an, and how he ever )eeps out of scrapes heaven only )nows,, said the lawyer in despair+ ,5e would trust any'ody+ 5e would trust a tra(p in the street+ 3 hope, 4r Newton, that you are not feeling very sore with (e, 'ut a lawyer has to 'e a little inhu(an+, ,That 3 understand,, said $nthony heartily, and at that (o(ent 9renchan ca(e in+ They tal)ed for a while on an ite( of news which was 'eing advertised on all newspaper 'ills and placards, and then 4r 9renchan, with a sigh, said2 ,Well, let us to 'usiness, and get it over+, 5e produced a heavy wallet and too) out a wad of notes+ ,What on earth did you 'ring that for., as)ed the lawyer+ ,>ecause,, said 4r 9renchan e(phatically, ,3 thought if you could not trust 4r Newton, there was no reason why 4r Newton should trust us+ 3 do trust 4r Newton, 3 trust hi( i(plicitly+, ,Bon,t raise your voice,, said the lawyer+ ,There is no need to (a)e a distur'ance+, ,$nd 4r Newton trusts (e+, ,5ave you 'rought the (oney., as)ed the lawyer practically+ $nthony produced his heavy wallet+ ,What did 3 tell you., said 9renchan, for the second ti(e that day+ ,$ (an of su'stance and a (an of honour, Whipplewhite+ Will you do (e a favour., 5e leant across the ta'le and spo)e earnestly to $nthony+ ,6ertainly, 4r 9renchan+, 4r 9renchan tossed his wallet into $nthony,s lap+ Ta)e that wallet and go outside for five (inutes, and then return,, ,>ut why., as)ed $nthony, raising his eye'rows+ ,To show that 3 trust you+ $nd 3 daresay you would do the sa(e for (e., ,4ost certainly 3 would,, said $nthony+

5e pic)ed up the wallet+ ,>ut there is a lot of (oney here, isn,t there. 3 wish you would count it+, ,There is no necessity to count it,, said the other, loftily+ Nevertheless, he pulled open the flap and too) out a wad of notes+ 5e turned over the first 'atch of notes and $nthony saw that they were each for ten pounds+ >eneath were sha( ,>an) of Engraving, notes, he guessed, 'ut those on top were genuine enough+ ,3 don,t li)e doing it,, he said, as he too) the wallet fro( the other+ ,$fter all, you don,t )now (e+, ,3 thin) 3 should accede to 4r 9renchan,s rather re(ar)a'le re*uest,, said the lawyer gently, and $nthony slipped the case into his poc)et, and went slowly fro( the restaurant+ $ ta-i ca' was passing+ ,Bon,t stop,, he said, as he ran up to the slowing vehicle+ ,Brive (e to Aictoria+, $s the ca' flashed through the dar)ening streets, he too) the wallet and e-tracted its contents+ The twenty top notes were gloriously genuine+ 3n the restaurant 4r Whipplewhite and 9renchan waited+ ,$ 'right )id,, said 4r 9renchan+ ,$in,t they all 'right., said the other conte(ptuously+ ,$in,t they all clever. 3t is only the clever ones that fall+ 5ullo@, 5e loo)ed up with a start to (eet the eyes of a soldierly loo)ing (an+ ,5ullo, Ban, waiting for a (ug., ,3 don,t )now what you (ean, sergeant,, said 9renchan+ ,We are waiting for a friend of ours+, ,=ou,ll wait a long ti(e, that,s (y opinion,, said 0ergeant 4aud, of 0cotland =ard+ ,3 have 'een watching that lad all the afternoon+, 5e clic)ed his teeth cheerfully, and viewed with great 1oy the consternation and horror that was dawning on the faces of his victi(s+ ,3t is occasions li)e these, Ban, that (a)e all the police(en in heaven rise up and sing hallelu1ah,, he added+