" Schomberg's vanity clung to the belief in some atrocious,
extraordinary means of seduction employed by Heyst. "Look how he
bewitched that poor Morrison," he murmured.
"Ah, Morrison--got all his money, what?"
"Yes--and his life."
"Terrible fellow, that Swedish baron! How is one to get at him?"
Schomberg exploded.
"Three against one! Are you shy? Do you want me to give you a letter of
introduction?"
"You ought to look at yourself in a glass," Ricardo said quietly. "Dash
me if you don't get a stroke of some kind presently. And this is the
fellow who says women can do nothing! That one will do for you, unless
you manage to forget her."
"I wish I could," Schomberg admitted earnestly. "And it's all the doing
of that Swede. I don't get enough sleep, Mr. Ricardo. And then, to
finish me off, you gentlemen turn up . . . as if I hadn't enough worry."
"That's done you good," suggested the secretary with ironic seriousness.
"Takes your mind off that silly trouble. At your age too."
He checked himself, as if in pity, and changing his tone:
"I would really like to oblige you while doing a stroke of business at
the same time."
"A good stroke," insisted Schomberg, as if it were mechanically. In his
simplicity he was not able to give up the idea which had entered his
head. An idea must be driven out by another idea, and with Schomberg
ideas were rare and therefore tenacious.
Pages:
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209