Last week I spent down in
Warwickshire, clewing up the loose tackle, holding heart-to-heart
conversations with Collingwood and my steward. Collingwood's my
neighbour down there, you know, and will help to look after things."
Farrell considered all this, slowly. "Excuse me, Sir Roderick," said
he, "but is there no chance of your going back to your intention and
re-packing?"
"Why on earth should I?" was my very natural question.
"Why, it's like this, sir," said Farrell, "--and now I'll come to the
real reason that brought me yesterday. My real reason was a matter
of business. . . . You may remember my telling you that, in New York,
I'd consulted Renton, an old friend of mine, about raising the
capital to take over and develop Santa Santissima, as we've agreed to
call the island; and that Renton had no difficulty to raise the
money. What I didn't tell you--not thinking it wise before company--
was that from the first I'd stipulated--with Hales as well as with
Renton--that half the shares should be held in Great Britain.
Hales didn't care, as he put it, where in thunder the money came
from, so long as it was good.
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