Leave him to me. I shall do nothing till after our meeting next Thursday. Then we can call in Charlesworth and tell him that the fellow--Sainsbury is his name, I believe--is a slacker, and ought to join the army. Owing to the war we must cut down expenditure--you know. He must go, and several others too--in order to give our economy a flavour of truth."

"Charlesworth has always spoken very highly of him. He'll certainly urge us to keep him," the chairman remarked, looking blankly into the fire. "Only a fortnight ago his name was on the list of employees to be retained throughout the war."

"I know. But if Sainsbury has overheard what I said, then he's better outside this building than in it," Rodwell declared emphatically, drawing heavily at his cigar.

"You were a confounded fool to speak of such matters outside your own room at home, Lewin. It was most indiscreet. It isn't like you."

"I know. I was a confounded fool," the other admitted. "But I had no idea anyone had entered. He wears those infernal rubber things on his heels. But leave it to me. I'll clear him out all right."

"It must be done most delicately. He mustn't, for a single moment, suspect the reason of his dismissal."

Lewin Rodwell reflected for a second, and then, as though in his active, clever brain a sudden suggestion had arisen, he laughed and replied: "There are more ways than one by which to crush an enemy, my dear Boyle--as you yourself know. Leave all to me, and I can guarantee that we shall have nothing to fear from this young prig, Sainsbury. So set your mind at ease at once over it."

"Very well, Lewin. I know how clever you always are in avoiding trouble," laughed Sir Boyle Huntley. "Had it not been for you we'd both have more than once been in a very tight corner. As it is we've prospered famously, and--well, I suppose the world thinks quite a lot of us--especially of you--the man who does so much good and charitable work without any thought of reward--purely as a patriotic Briton."

Lewin Rodwell winked knowingly, and both men laughed aloud.

Rodwell's eye caught the clock. It was half-past four.

"By Jove! I must fly!" he cried. "I promised to be at Lady Betty's soon after four. Trustram, of the Admiralty, will be there, and I particularly want to meet him. I've got my car. Can I drop you anywhere?"

 Prev. P 2/134 next