human
Yes, I have paid ten thousand half-crowns twice, he said.
gpt
Even half-crowns mount up, and I used to think nothing of them. I have followed your advice to the letter, and I can no more pay the special settlement than I can fly.
human
You were quite right, said Alington.
gpt
I assure you there will not be the slightest need for that. By the way, the Stock Exchange have given us the special settlement at the mid-October account. Dear me! what an opportunity poor Lord Abbotsworthy has missed! He would not take my advice. Even now the shares are at a slight premium. You have invested, in fact, the larger half of your first year's salary.
human
Exactly. By the way, I don't want my salary to be printed very large in the balance-sheet. Put it in a sequestered corner and periphrase it, will you? People won't like it, you know, and the whole concern will be discredited; they are so prejudiced.
gpt
That also need not trouble you, said Alington.
human
In fact, I have paid your salary myself. It does not appear at all in the balance-sheet.
gpt
Do you mean you pay me five thousand pounds a year out of your own purse?
human
Certainly. Your services to me are worth that, and I pay it most willingly, which the shareholders undoubtedly would not do. Indeed, my dear Conybeare, the benefit that your name and Lord Abbotsworthy's--yours particularly--have done me is immense. The British public is so aristocratic at heart and at purse; and unless I am some day bankrupt, which I assure you is not in the least likely, no one will ever know about your--your remuneration.
gpt
I don't know that I altogether like that, said Jack in what Kit called his
human
A child, she said once,
gpt
I really do not see that that need concern you, he said, after his usual pause.
human
In fact, I thought we had settled to dismiss such matters for me to manage as I choose. You consented to be on my board. As a business matter, I am quite willing to give you this sum in return for your services. Now, the shareholders would not, I think, rate you at that figure. Shareholders know nothing about business; I do.
gpt
How unappreciated I have been all these years! he said.
human
I think I shall put an advertisement in the Times: 'A blameless Marquis is willing to be a director of anything for a suitable remuneration.'
gpt
Ah! that I should object to very strongly, he said.
human
Consider your remuneration a retaining fee, if you like, but we must keep our directors exclusive. I cannot have you joining any threepenny concern that may be going about, or, indeed, any concern at all. Carmel--you belong to Carmel,
gpt
Have you seen this? he asked.
human
There is a column about the Carmel mines, all most favourable, and written, I should say, by someone who knows.
gpt
I am glad they have put it in this week, he said.
human
They promised to make an effort.
gpt
You have seen it? Don't you think it is good?
human
I wrote it--practically, at least, I wrote it. The City editor, at any rate, was kind enough to write it under my suggestions--I might say under my dictation.
gpt
One can't have too many friends,
human
Well, I can hardly call him a friend. I never set eyes on him till two days ago, and then he was more an enemy. He called and tried to blackmail me.
gpt
My dear Alington, what have you been doing?
human
He tried to blackmail me not because I had been doing anything, but because I had not done something--because I had not offered him shares, in fact; but I squared that very easily.
gpt
You paid him?
human
Of course. He was comparatively cheap, and he became like Balaam. He came to curse, and he went away blessing me and the mine, and Australia and you, with a small cheque in his pocket and copious notes for this article to which you have been referring.
gpt
Do you mean to say that you are liable to be called on by any City editor, and made to give him money not to crab the mine?
human
Well, not by any City editor, said Mr. Alington,