"
"But if--but how can you be sure of it? Suppose you've got your figures
wrong?" His head was thrust forward again into the full light.
"I'm in the habit of getting my figures right," said Peer.
When he broached the question of security, the old man was in the act of
moving away from him across the room. But he stopped short, and looked
back over his shoulder.
"What? Security? You want me to stand security for two million crowns?"
"No; the Company asks for a guarantee for four hundred thousand."
After a pause the old man said: "I see. Yes, I see. But--but I'm not
worth as much as that altogether."
"I can put in three hundred thousand of the four myself, in shares. And
then, of course, I have the Loreng property, and the works. But put it
at a round figure--will you guarantee a hundred thousand?"
There was another pause, and then the reply came from the far end of the
room to which Uthoug had drifted: "Even that's a big sum."
"Of course if you would rather not, I could make other arrangements. My
two friends, who have just been here--" He rose and began to gather up
his papers.
"No, no; you mustn't be in such a hurry. Why, you come down on a
man like an avalanche. You must give me time to think it over--till
to-morrow at least. And the papers--at any rate, I must have a look at
them."
Uthoug passed a restless and troubled night. The solid ground seemed to
have failed him; his mind could find no firm foothold. His son-in-law
must be a great man--he should be the last to doubt it.
Pages:
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190