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half…finished state on Chelsea…made frames and canvases。 Fancy my
letting him see those two half…completed Van Dycks； the new Hals；
the half…dozen Corots。 He would even see his own copy of
Velasquez next to the one exactly like itthe one MacMillan
finished yesterday and that I am sending to Oporto； where next
year； in a convent； we shall 'discover' it。〃
Philip's surprise gave way to intense amusement。 In his delight
at the situation upon which he had stumbled； he laughed aloud。
The two men； who had risen； surprised at the spectacle of a young
man laughing at nothing； turned and stared。 Philip also rose。
〃Pardon me；〃 he said to Faust； 〃but you spoke so loud I couldn't
help overhearing。 I think we've met before； when I was a reporter
on the Republic。〃
The Pittsburgh millionaire made a pretense； of annoyance。
〃Really！〃 he protested irritably； 〃you reporters butt in
everywhere。 No public man is safe。 Is there no place we can go
where you fellows won't annoy us？〃
〃You can go to the devil for all I care；〃 said Philip； 〃or even
to Pittsburgh！〃
He saw the waiter bearing down upon him with the imitation
cocktail； and moved to meet it。 The millionaire； fearing the
reporter would escape him； hastily changed his tone。 He spoke
with effective resignation。
〃However； since you've learned so much；〃 he said； 〃I'll tell you
the whole of it。 I don't want the fact garbled； for it is of
international importance。 Do you know what a Velasquez is？〃
〃Do you？〃 asked Philip。
The millionaire smiled tolerantly。
〃I think I do；〃 he said。 〃And to prove it； I shall tell you
something that will be news to you。 I have just bought a
Velasquez that I am going to place in my art museum。 It is worth
three hundred thousand dollars。〃
Philip accepted the cocktail the waiter presented。 It was quite
as bad as he had expected。
〃Now； I shall tell you something；〃 he said； 〃that will be news to
you。 You are not buying a Velasquez。 It is no more a Velasquez
than this hair oil is a real cocktail。 It is a bad copy； worth a
few dollars。〃
〃How dare you！〃 shouted Faust。 〃Are you mad？〃
The face of the German turned crimson with rage。
〃Who is this insolent one？〃 he sputtered。
〃I will make you a sporting proposition；〃 said Philip。 〃You can
take it； or leave it。 You two will get into a taxi。 You will
drive to this man's studio in Tate Street。 You will find your
Velasquez is there and not on its way to Liverpool。 And you will
find one exactly like it； and a dozen other 'old masters'
half…finished。 I'll bet you a hundred pounds I'm right！ And I'll
bet this man a hundred pounds that he DOESN'T DARE TAKE YOU TO
HIS STUDIO！〃
〃Indeed； I will not；〃 roared the German。 〃It would be to insult
myself。〃
〃It would be an easy way to earn a hundred pounds； too；〃 said
Philip。
〃How dare you insult the Baron？〃 demanded Faust。 〃What makes you
think〃
〃I don't think； I know！〃 said Philip。 〃For the price of a
taxi…cab fare to Tate Street； you win a hundred pounds。〃
〃We will all three go at once；〃 cried the German。 〃My car is
outside。 Wait here。 I will have it brought to the door？〃
Faust protested indignantly。
〃Do not disturb yourself； Baron；〃 he said； 〃just because a fresh
reporter〃
But already the German had reached the hall。 Nor did he stop
there。 They saw him； without his hat； rush into Piccadilly；
spring into a taxi； and shout excitedly to the driver。 The next
moment he had disappeared。
〃That's the last you'll see of him；〃 said Philip。
〃His actions are certainly peculiar；〃 gasped the millionaire。 〃He
did not wait for us。 He didn't even wait for his hat！ I think；
after all； I had better go to Tate Street。〃
〃Do so；〃 said Philip； 〃and save yourself three hundred thousand
dollars； and from the laughter of two continents。 You'll find me
here at lunch。 If I'm wrong； I'll pay you a hundred pounds。〃
〃You should come with me；〃 said Faust。 〃It is only fair to
yourself。〃
〃I'll take your word for what you find in the studio；〃 said
Philip。 〃I cannot go。 This is my busy day。〃
Without further words； the millionaire collected his hat and
stick； and； in his turn； entered a taxi…cab and disappeared。
Philip returned to the Louis Quatorze chair and lit a cigarette。
Save for the two elderly gentlemen on the sofa； the lounge was
still empty； and his reflections were undisturbed。 He shook his
head sadly。
〃Surely；〃 Philip thought； 〃the French chap was right who said
words were given us to conceal our thoughts。 What a strange world
it would be if every one possessed my power。 Deception would be
quite futile and lying would become a lost art。 I wonder；〃 he
mused cynically； 〃is any one quite honest？ Does any one speak as
he thinks and think as he speaks？〃
At once came a direct answer to his question。 The two elderly
gentlemen had risen and； before separating； had halted a few feet
from him。
〃I sincerely hope； Sir John；〃 said one of the two； 〃that you have
no regrets。 I hope you believe that I have advised you in the
best interests of all？〃
〃I do； indeed；〃 the other replied heartily 〃We shall be thought
entirely selfish； but you know and I know that what we have done
is for the benefit of the shareholders。〃
Philip was pleased to find that the thoughts of each of the old
gentlemen ran hand in hand with his spoken words。 〃Here； at
least；〃 he said to himself； 〃are two honest men。〃
As though loath to part； the two gentlemen still lingered。
〃And I hope；〃 continued the one addressed as Sir John； 〃that you
approve of my holding back the public announcement of the combine
until the afternoon。 It will give the shareholders a better
chance。 Had we given out the news in this morning's papers the
stockbrokers would have〃
〃It was most wise；〃 interrupted the other。 〃Most just。〃
The one called Sir John bowed himself away； leaving the other
still standing at the steps of the lounge。 With his hands behind
his back； his chin sunk on his chest； he remained； gazing at
nothing； his thoughts far away。
Philip found them thoughts of curious interest。 They were
concerned with three flags。 Now； the gentleman considered them
separately； and Philip saw the emblems painted clearly in colors；
fluttering and flattened by the breeze。 Again； the gentleman
considered them in various combinations； but always； in whatever
order his mind arranged them； of the three his heart spoke always
to the same flag； as the heart of a mother reaches toward her
firstborn。
Then the thoughts were diverted； and in his mind's eye the old
gentleman was watching the launching of a little schooner from a
shipyard on the Clyde。 At her main flew one of the three flagsa
flag with a red cross on a white ground。 With thoughts tender and
grateful； he followed her to strange； hot ports； through
hurricanes and tidal waves； he saw her return again and again to
the London docks； laden with odorous coffee； mahogany； red
rubber； and raw bullion。 He saw sister ships follow in her wake
to every port in the South Sea； saw steam packets take the place
of the ships with sails； saw the steam packets give way to great
ocean liners； each a floating village； each equipped； as no
village is equipped； with a giant power house； thousands of
electric lamps； suite after suite of silk…lined boudoirs； with
the floating harps that vibrate to a love message three hundred
miles away； to the fierce call for help from a sinking ship。 But
at the main of each great vessel there still flew the same
house…flagthe red cross on the field of whiteonly now in the
arms of the cross there nestled proudly a royal crown。
Philip cast a scared glance at the old gentleman； and raced down
the corridor to the telephone。
Of all the young Englishmen he knew； Maddox was his best friend
and a stock…broker。 In that latter capacity Philip had never
before addressed him。 Now he demanded his instant presence at the
telephone。
Maddox greeted him genially； but Philip cut him short。
〃I want you to act for me；〃 he whispered； 〃and act quick！ I want
you to buy for me one thousand shares of the Royal Mail Line； of
the Elder…Dempster； and of the Union Castle。〃
He heard Maddox laugh indulgently。
〃There's nothing in th