Mr. Fred's imagination baulked at the problem, and he shook his head.
"I'll tell you what would happen," said Mr. de Vinne. "It happened
once before, when another pal of Bones got let in on a motor car
company. Bones fell over himself to buy the shares and control the
company. And, mind you, the Mazeppa looks good. It's the sort of
proposition that would appeal to a young and energetic man. It's one
of those bogy companies that seem possible, and a fellow who knows the
ropes would say straight away: 'If I had charge of that, I'd make it
pay.' That's what I'm banking on."
"What are the shares worth?" said Fred.
"About twopence net," replied the other brutally. "I'll tell you
frankly that I'd run this business myself if I thought there was any
chance of my succeeding. But if Bones finds all the shares in one
hand, he's going to shy. What I'm prepared to do is this. These
shares are worth twopence. I'm going to sell you and a few friends
parcels at a shilling a share. If nothing happens, I'll undertake to
buy them back at the same price."
A week later Hamilton brought news to the office of Tibbetts and
Hamilton, Limited.
"The chief is going back to the Coast."
Bones opened his mouth wide in astonishment.
"Back to the Coast?" he said incredulously. "You don't mean he's
chucking jolly old Twickenham?"
Hamilton nodded.
"He's had an excellent offer from some people in the City to control a
trading company. By the way, did you ever hear of the Mazeppa
Company?" Bones shook his head.
"I've heard of Mazeppa," he said. "He was the naughty old gentleman
who rode through the streets of Birmingham without any clothes."
Hamilton groaned.
"If I had your knowledge of history," he said despairingly, "I'd start
a bone factory. You're thinking of Lady Godiva, but that doesn't
matter. No, I don't suppose you've heard of the Mazeppa Company; it
did not operate in our territory."
Bones shook his head and pursed his lips.
"But surely," he said, "dear old Excellency hasn't accepted a job
without consulting me?"
Hamilton made derisive noises.
"He fixed it up in a couple of days," he said, after a while. "It
doesn't mean he'll be living on the Coast, but he'll probably be there
for some months in the year. The salary is good--in fact, it's two
thousand a year. I believe Sanders has to qualify for directorship by
taking some shares, but the dear chap is enthusiastic about it, and so
is Patricia. It is all right, of course. Sanders got the offer
through a firm of solicitors."
"Pooh!" said Bones. "Solicitors are nobody."
He learnt more about the company that afternoon, for Sanders called in
and gave a somewhat roseate view of the future.