Dinner at the Lodge that night was not a very lively affair.Trent had great matters in his brain and was not in the least disposed to make conversation for the sake of his unbidden guests.Da Souza's few remarks he treated with silent contempt,and Mrs.Da Souza he answered only in monosyllables.Julie,nervous and depressed,stole away before dessert,and Mrs.Da Souza soon followed her,very massive,and frowning with an air of offended dignity.Da Souza,who opened the door for them,returned to his seat,moodily flicking the crumbs from his trousers with his serviette.
"Hang it all,Trent,"he remarked in an aggrieved tone,"you might be a bit more amiable!Nice lively dinner for the women I must say.""One isn't usually amiable to guests who stay when they're not asked,"Trent answered gruffly."However,if I hadn't much to say to your wife and daughter,I have a word or two to say to you,so fill up your glass and listen."Da Souza obeyed,but without heartiness.He stretched himself out in his chair and looked down thoughtfully at the large expanse of shirt-front,in the centre of which flashed an enormous diamond.
"I've been into the City to-day as you know,"Trent continued,"and I found as I expected that you have been ****** efforts to dispose of your share in the Bekwando Syndicate.""I can assure you -""Oh rot!"Trent interrupted."I know what I'm talking about.Iwon't have you sell out.Do you hear?If you try it on I'll queer the market for you at any risk.I won't marry your daughter,Iwon't be blackmailed,and I won't be bullied.We're in this together,sink or swim.If you pull me down you've got to come too.
I'll admit that if Monty were to present himself in London to-morrow and demand his full pound of flesh we should be ruined,but he isn't going to do it.By your own showing there is no immediate risk,and you've got to leave the thing in my hands to do what I think best.
If you play any hanky-panky tricks -look here,Da Souza,I'll kill you,sure!Do you hear?I could do it,and no one would be the wiser so far as I was concerned.You take notice of what I say,Da Souza.You've made a fortune,and be satisfied.That's all!""You won't marry Julie,then?"Da Souza said gloomily.
"No,I'm shot if I will!"Trent answered."And look here,Da Souza,I'm leaving here for town to-morrow -taken a furnished flat in Dover Street -you can stay here if you want,but there'll only be a caretaker in the place.That's all I've got to say.Make yourself at home with the port and cigars.Last night,you know!You'll excuse me!I want a breath of fresh air."Trent strolled through the open window into the garden,and breathed a deep sigh of relief.He was a free man again now.He had created new dangers -a new enemy to face -but what did he care?All his life had been spent in facing dangers and conquering enemies.What he had done before he could do again!As he lit a pipe and walked to and fro,he felt that this new state of things lent a certain savour to life -took from it a certain sensation of finality not altogether agreeable,which his recent great achievements in the financial world seemed to have inspired.After all,what could Da Souza do?His prosperity was altogether bound up in the success of the Bekwando Syndicate -he was never the man to kill the goose which was laying such a magnificent stock of golden eggs.The affair,so far as he was concerned,troubled him scarcely at all on cool reflection.As he drew near the little plantation he even forgot all about it.Something else was filling his thoughts!
