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THE FIRM OF GIRDLESTONE
“I mean it was all the same to my father. He wouldn’t know the
difference. Well, I told him of your high descent, and that you were
a traveller, a soldier, and a man of steady and trustworthy habits.”
“Eh?” ejaculated the major involuntarily. “Well, all right. Go on!”
“I told him all this,” said Ezra slowly, “and I pointed out to him
that the sum of money which he was prepared to lay out would be
better expended on such a man than on one who had no virtues
beyond those of business.”
“I didn’t give you credit for so much sinse!” his companion exclaimed with enthusiasm.
“I said to him that if the matter were left entirely in your hands
we could rely upon its being done thoroughly. At the same time,
we should have the satisfaction of knowing that the substantial
sum which we are prepared to pay our agent had come into worthy
hands.”
“You hit it there again,” murmured the veteran.
“You are prepared, then,” said Ezra, glancing keenly at him, “to
put yourself at our orders on condition that you are well paid for it?”
“Not so fast, me young friend, not so fast!” said the major, taking his cigar from between his lips and letting the blue smoke curl
round his head. “Let’s hear what it is that you want me to do, and
then I’m riddy to say what I’ll agree to and what I won’t. I remimber
Jimmy Baxter in Texas –”
“Hang Jimmy Baxter!” Ezra cried impatiently.
“That’s been done already,” observed the major calmly. “Lynched
for horse-stealing in ‘66. However, go on, and I’ll promise not to stop
you until you have finished.”
Thus encouraged, Ezra proceeded to unfold the plan upon which
the fortunes of the House of Girdlestone depended. Not a word did
he say of ruin or danger, or the reasons which had induced this speculation. On the contrary, he depicted the affairs of the firm as being
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ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
in a most nourishing condition, and this venture as simply a small
insignificant offshoot from their business, undertaken as much for
amusement as for any serious purpose. Still, he laid stress upon the
fact that though the sum in question was a small one to the firm, yet
it was a very large one in other men’s eyes. As to the morality of the
scheme, that was a point which Ezra omitted entirely to touch upon.
Any comment upon that would, he felt, be superfluous when dealing with such a man as his companion.
“And now, major,” he concluded, “provided you lend us your
name and your talents to help us in our speculation, the firm are
prepared to meet you in a most liberal spirit in the matter of remuneration. Of course your voyage and your expenses will be handsomely paid. You will have to travel by steamer to St. Petersburg,
provided that we choose the Ural Mountains as the scene of our
imaginary find. I hear that there is high play going on aboard these
boats, and with your well-known skill you will no doubt be able to
make the voyage a remunerative one. We calculate that at the most
you will be in Russia about three months. Now, the firm thought
that it would be very fair if they were to guarantee you two hundred and fifty pounds, which they would increase to five hundred in
case of success; of course by that we mean complete success, such as
would be likely to attend your exertions.”
Now, had there been any third person in the room during this
long statement of the young merchant’s, and had that third person
been a man of observation, he might have remarked several peculiarities in the major’s demeanour. At the commencement of the address he might have posed as the very model and type of respectable
composure. As the plan was gradually unfolded, however, the old
soldier began to puff harder at his cigar until a continuous thick
grey cloud rose up from him, through which the lurid tip of the
havannah shone like a murky meteor. From time to time he passed
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THE FIRM OF GIRDLESTONE
his hand down his puffy cheeks, as was his custom when excited.
Then he moved uneasily in his chair, cleared his throat huskily,
and showed other signs of restlessness, all of which were hailed by
Ezra Girdlestone as unmistakable proofs of the correctness of his
judgment and of the not unnatural eagerness of the veteran on
hearing of the windfall which chance had placed in his way.
When the young man had finished, the major stood up with his
face to the empty fire-place, his legs apart, his chest inflated, and his
body rocking ponderously backwards and forwards.
“Let me be quite sure that I understand you,” he said. “You wish
me to go to Russia?”
“Quite so,” Ezra remarked, rubbing his hands pleasantly.
“You have the goodness to suggist that on me way I should rook
me fellow-passengers in the boat?”
“That is to say, if you think it worth your while.”
“Quite so, if I think it worth me while. I am then to procade
across the counthry to some mountains –”
“The Urals.”
“And there I am to pretind to discover certain diamond mines,
and am to give weight to me story by the fact that I am known to
be a man of good birth, and also by exhibiting some rough stones
which you wish me to take out with me from England?”
“Quite right, major,” Ezra said encouragingly.
“I am then to tilegraph or write this lie to England and git it
inserted in the papers?”
“That’s an ugly word,” Ezra remonstrated. “This ‘report’ we will say.
A report may be either true or false, you know.”
“And by this report, thin,” the major continued, “you reckon
that the market will be so affected that your father and you will be
able to buy and sell in a manner that will be profitable to you, but
by which you will do other people out of their money?”
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ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
“You have an unpleasant way of putting it,” said Ezra, with
a forced laugh; “but you have the idea right.”
“I have another idea as well,” roared the old soldier, flushing
purple with passion. “I’ve an idea that if I was twinty years younger
I’d see whether you’d fit through that window, Master Girdlestone.
Ged! I’d have taught you to propose such a schame to a man with
blue blood in his veins, you scounthrel!”
Ezra fell back in his chair. He was outwardly composed, but
there was a dangerous glitter in his eye, and his face had turned
from a healthy olive to a dull yellow tint.
“You won’t do it?” he gasped.
“Do it! D’ye think that a man who’s worn Her Majesty’s scarlet
jacket for twinty years would dirty his hands with such a trick? I tell
ye, I wouldn’t do it for all the money that iver was coined. Look here,
Girdlestone, I know you, but, by the Lord, you don’t know me!”
The young merchant sat silently in his chair, with the same livid
colour upon his face and savage expression in his eyes. Major Tobias
Clutterbuck stood at the end of the table, stooping forward so as to
lean his hands upon it, with his eyes protuberant and his scanty grey
fringe in a bristle with indignation.
“What right had you to come to me with such a proposal? I don’t
set up for being a saint, Lord knows, but, be George! I’ve some morals, such as they are, and I mean to stick to them. One of me rules of
life has been niver to know a blackgaird, and so, me young friend,
from this day forth you and I go on our own roads. Ged! I’m not particular, but ‘you must draw the line somewhere,’ as me frind, Charlie
Monteith, of the Indian Horse, used to say I when he cut his fatherin-law. I draw it at you.”
While the major was solemnly delivering himself of these sentiments, Ezra continued to sit watching him in a particularly venomous manner. His straight, cruel lips were blanched with passion, and
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THE FIRM OF GIRDLESTONE
the veins stood out upon his forehead. The young man was a famous
amateur bruiser, and could fight a round with any professional in
London. The old soldier would be a child in his hands. As the latter
picked up his hat preparatory to leaving the room, Ezra rose and
bolted the door upon the inside. “It’s worth five pounds in a police court,” he muttered to himself, and knotting up his great hands,
which glittered with rings, he approached his companion with his
head sunk upon his breast, his eyes flashing from under his dark
brows, and the slow, stealthy step of a beast of prey. There was
a characteristic refinement of cruelty about his attack, as though
he wished to gloat over the helplessness of his victim, and give him
time to realize his position before he set upon him.
If such were his intention he failed signally in producing the
desired effect. The instant the major perceived his manoeuvre he
pulled himself up to his full height, as he might have done on parade, and slipping his hand beneath the tails of his frock-coat, produced a small glittering implement, which he levelled straight at
the young merchant’s head.
“A revolver!” Ezra gasped, staggering back.
“No, a derringer,” said the veteran blandly. “I got into the thrick
of carrying one when I was in Colorado, and I have stuck to it ever
since. You niver know when it may be useful.” As he spoke he continued to hold the black muzzle of his pistol in a dead line with
the centre of the young man’s forehead, and to follow the latter’s
movements with a hand which was as steady as a rock. Ezra was no
coward, but he ceased his advance and stood irresolute.
“Now, thin,” cried the major, in sharp military accents, “undo
that door.”
The young merchant took one look at the threatening apoplectic face of his antagonist, and another at the ugly black spot which
covered him. He stooped, and pushed back the bolt.
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ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
“Now, open it! Ged, if you don’t look alive I’ll have to blow a hole
in you afther all. You wouldn’t be the first man I’ve killed, nor the
last maybe.”
Ezra opened the door precipitately.
“Now walk before me into the strate.”
It struck the waiters at Nelson’s well-known restaurant as
a somewhat curious thing that their two customers should walk out
with such very grave faces and in so unsociable a manner. “C’est
la froideur Anglaise!” remarked little Alphonse Lefanue to a fellow
exile as they paused in the laying of tables to observe the phenomenon. Neither of them noticed that the stout gentleman behind with
his hand placed jauntily in the breast of his coat, was still clutching
the brown handle of a pistol.
There was a hansom standing at the door and Major Clutterbuck stepped into it.
“Look ye here, Girdlestone,” he said, as the latter stood looking
sulkily up and down the street. “You should learn a lesson from this.
Never attack a man unless you’re sure that he’s unarmed. You may
git shot, if you do.”
Ezra continued to stare gloomily into vacancy and took no notice of his late companion’s remark.
“Another thing,” said the major. “You must niver take it for
granted that every man you mate is as great a blackgaird as yourself.”
The young merchant gave him a malignant glance from his dark
eyes and was turning to go, but the gentleman in the cab stretched
out his hand to detain him.
“One more lesson,” he said. “Never funk a pistol unless you are
sure there’s a carthridge inside. Mine hadn’t. Drive on, cabby!” With
which parting shot the gallant major rattled away down Piccadilly
with a fixed determination never again to leave his rooms without
a few of Eley’s No 4 central fires in his pocket.
CHAPTER XV
AN ADDITION TO THE HOUSE
There were rejoicings in Phillimore Gardens over Tom’s engagement, for the two old people were both heartily fond of Kate –”our
Kate,” as they were wont proudly to call her. The physician chafed at
first over the idea of keeping the matter a secret from Girdlestone.
A little reflection served to show him, however, that there was nothing to be gained by informing him, while Kate’s life, during the time
that she was forced to remain under his roof, would be more tolerable as long as he was kept in ignorance of it. In the meanwhile the
lovers saw little of each other, and Tom was only consoled by the
thought that every day which passed brought him nearer to the time
when he could claim his prize without concealment or fear. He went
about as happy and as light-hearted a man as any in all London. His
mother was delighted at his high spirits, but his bluff old father was
not so well satisfied. “Confound the lad!” he said to himself. “He is
settling down to a life of idleness. It suits him too well. We must get
him to choose one way or the other.”
Accordingly, after breakfast one morning, the doctor asked his
son to step with him into the library, where he lit his long cherrywood pipe, as was his custom after every meal, and smoked for some
time in silence.
“You must do something to keep you from mischief, my boy,” he
said at last brusquely.
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ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
“I’m ready for anything, dad,” replied Tom, “but I don’t quite see what
I’m fitted for.”
“First of all, what do you think of this?” the doctor asked abruptly, handing a letter over to his son, who opened it and read as follows: –
“DEAR SIR, –
“It has come to my knowledge through my son that your boy has
abandoned the study of medicine, and that you are still uncertain as
to his future career. I have long had the intention of seeking a young
man who might join in our business, and relieve my old shoulders
of some of the burden. Ezra urges me to write and propose that your
son should become one of us. If he has any taste for business we shall
be happy to advance his interest in every way. He would, of course,
have to purchase a share in the concern, which would amount to
seven thousand pounds, on which he would be paid interest at the
rate of five per cent. By allowing this interest to accumulate, and investing also his share of the profits, he might in time absorb a large
portion of the business. In case he joined us upon this footing we
should have no objection to his name appearing as one of the firm.
Should the idea commend itself to you, I should be most happy to
talk over details, and to explain to you the advantages which the
firm can offer, at my office in Fenchurch Street, any day between ten
and four.”
“With kind regards to your family, and hoping that they enjoy
the great blessing of health, I remain sincerely yours,”
“JOHN GIRDLESTONE.”
“What d’ye think of that?” the doctor asked, when his son had
finished reading it.
“I hardly know,” said Tom; “I should like a little time to think
it over.”
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THE FIRM OF GIRDLESTONE
“Seven thousand pounds is a good round sum. It is more than
half the total capital which I have invested for you. On the other hand, I have heard those who ought to know say there is not
a sounder or better managed concern in London. There’s no time
like the present, Tom. Get your hat, and we’ll go down to Fenchurch
Street together and look into it.”
While father and son were rattling along in a cab from Kensington to the City, the young man had time to turn the matter over
in his mind. He wanted to be at work, and why not take this up as
well as anything else. It is true that he disliked what he had seen of
both the Girdlestones, but, on the other hand, by becoming a member of the firm he would probably be thrown in the way of meeting
the old merchant’s ward. This last consideration decided the matter, and long before the cab had pulled up at the long and dirty
passage which led to the offices of the great African firm, the party
principally interested had fully made up his mind as to the course
he should adopt.
They were duly ushered into the small sanctum adorned with
the dissected ships, the maps, the charts, the lists of sailing, and the
water-colour picture of the barque Belinda, where they were received by the head of the firm. With a charming personal modesty,
tempered by a becoming pride in the great business which he had
himself created, he discoursed upon its transactions and its importance. He took down ledgers and flashed great rows of figures before
the eyes of the good doctor, explaining, at the same time, how month
after month their receipts increased and their capital grew. Then he
spoke touchingly of his own ripe years, and of the quiet and seclusion which he looked forward to after his busy lifetime.
“With my young friend here,” he said, patting Tom affectionately on the shoulder, “and my own boy Ezra, both working together,
there will be young blood and life in the concern. They’ll bring the
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ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
energy, and when they want advice they can come to the old man
for it. I intend in a year or so, when the new arrangement works
smoothly, to have a run over to Palestine. It may seem a weakness to
you, but all my life I have hoped some day to stand upon that holy
ground, and to look down on those scenes which we have all imagined to ourselves. Your son will start with a good position and a fair
income, which he will probably double before he is five years older.
The money invested by him is simply to ensure that he shall have
a substantial interest in promoting the affairs of the firm.” Thus the
old man ran on, and when Tom and his father left the office with
the sound of great sums of money, and huge profits, and heavy balances, and safe investments, all jostling each other in their brains,
they had both made up their minds as to the future.
Hence in a couple of days there was a stir in the legal house of
Jones, Morgan, & Co., with much rustling of parchment, and signing of names, and drinking of inferior sherry. The result of all which
was that the firm of Girdlestone & Co. were seven thousand pounds
the richer, and Thomas Dimsdale found himself a recognized member of a great commercial house with all the rights and privileges
appertaining thereto.
“A good day’s work, Tom,” said the old doctor, as they left the
lawyer’s office together. “You have now taken an irrevocable step in
life, my boy. The world is before you. You belong to a first-class firm
and you have every chance. May you thrive and prosper.”
“If I don’t it won’t be my fault,” Tom answered with decision.
“I shall work with my whole heart and soul.”
“A good day’s work, Ezra,” the African merchant was remarking
at that very moment in Fenchurch Street. “The firm is pinched again
for working expenses. This will help;” and he threw a little slip of
green paper across the table to his son.
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