Mrs. Westmacott had stopped, and was standing very stiffly with her Red
Indian face even grimmer than usual.
"Pearson?" said she. "Jeremiah Pearson?"
"The same."
"Then it's all off," she cried. "You need not carry out that
investment."
"Very well, ma'am."
They walked on together side by side, she brooding over some thought of
her own, and he a little crossed and disappointed at her caprice and the
lost commission for Harold.
"I tell you what, Admiral," she exclaimed suddenly, "if I were you I
should get your boy out of this partnership."
"But why, madam?"
"Because he is tied to one of the deepest, slyest foxes in the whole
city of London."
"Jeremiah Pearson, ma'am? What can you know of him? He bears a good
name."
"No one in this world knows Jeremiah Pearson as I know him, Admiral.
I warn you because I have a friendly feeling both for you and for your
son. The man is a rogue and you had best avoid him."
"But these are only words, ma'am. Do you tell me that you know him
better than the brokers and jobbers in the City?"
"Man," cried Mrs. Westmacott, "will you allow that I know him when I
tell you that my maiden name was Ada Pearson, and that Jeremiah is my
only brother?"
The Admiral whistled. "Whew!" cried he. "Now that I think of it, there
is a likeness."
"He is a man of iron, Admiral--a man without a heart. I should shock you
if I were to tell you what I have endured from my brother. My father's
wealth was divided equally between us. His own share he ran through in
five years, and he has tried since then by every trick of a cunning,
low-minded man, by base cajolery, by legal quibbles, by brutal
intimidation, to juggle me out of my share as well. There is no villainy
of which the man is not capable. Oh, I know my brother Jeremiah. I know
him and I am prepared for him."
"This is all new to me, ma'am. 'Pon my word, I hardly know what to say
to it. I thank you for having spoken so plainly. From what you say, this
is a poor sort of consort for a man to sail with. Perhaps Harold would
do well to cut himself adrift."
"Without losing a day."
"Well, we shall talk it over. You may be sure of that. But here we are
at the station, so I will just see you into your carriage and then home
to see what my wife says to the matter."
As he trudged homewards, thoughtful and perplexed, he was surprised to
hear a shout behind him, and to see Harold running down the road after
him.
"Why, dad," he cried, "I have just come from town, and the first thing
I saw was your back as you marched away. But you are such a quick walker
that I had to run to catch you."