Edgar Wallace

“ Such things do not happen. People do not finance the wild-cat schemes of impecunious peers—at least, people named Zolomon, who lived in the City of London, did not.
It was all Carfew's "eye and maiden aunt." He had a wild hope that Tuppy, in his very innocence and child-like confidence, had beguiled the enemy to his undoing, but it was a spark of hope upon which Carfew immediately turned a cold and sparkling stream of reason. People like Zolomon were not convinced by the child-like, nor the bland, since they themselves were dealers in similar quantities. Tuppy was lying. ”

“ He paused and frowned thoughtfully. "Your scheme is quite a good one," he said. "I should say that all we want is about five millions."
"Float a company," said Tuppy eagerly; "it's as easy as eatin' pie. Call the place Tuppyville-sur-Mer—good name, eh? I thought it out comin' over on the boat. Make the company the Tuppy Development and Land Company. Capital, five million, divided into fifty thousand shares of one hundred pounds. You give me a few thousand in cash and a few thousand in shares for the idea, and make whatever you can out of the business."
"It seems simple," said Carfew. ”

“ Tuppy looked at him suspiciously, and in a weak moment became diplomatic, adopting a variety of diplomacy which has made his name as Machiavelli a byword in Fleet Street.
"Of course," he said carelessly, "if you don't want to take up my little affair, I'll see Zolomon. I thought of seeing him. He bombards me—positively, old lad, bombards me—with letters askin' me to see him. I wonder if he's a relation of old Zolomon?" he asked.
"Of course he is. The young 'un's a moneylender," said Carfew impatiently, for he really had a most important engagement. "He writes to everybody, you silly ass. ”

“ In other words, with his usual acumen he had come in on the crest of the ferro-concrete boom which created a mild sensation in the building trade a few years ago. He had bought out the Shamstone patents and was lord of a little factory at Erith, which did a fairly good trade, and would have done more if Carfew could have found someone to put capital into the concern.
He could have put money into it himself, but Carfew had learnt that the important law of finance was: "Never put your hand into your own pocket."
When Gray's came on to the market, Carfew thought he saw a chance of amalgamation. ”

“ Carfew nodded.
"You understand," said Mr. Zolomon, "I cannot absolutely guarantee yon shall have any order from me in respect to this scheme of Lord Tupping's. I say this as a business man, desiring only to take every precaution for my own protection."
"I understand that," said Carfew.
"You can have the money now," said Mr. Zolomon, and produced his cheque-book. Carfew took the oblong slip and wrote a receipt in his vile hand.
It was an agreement, sufficiently binding, to repay the sum within twelve months, together with interest at the rate of six per cent. per annum. ”

“ He had—without waiting for the indignant repudiation of any agreement which trembled on the speculator's lips—hurried away, leaving a speechless jobber in the African Market with a horrible sense of having committed himself to an arrangement of which he heartily disapproved. ”

“ A good scheme from every point of view. Carfew was only five minutes late for lunch.
It was rather an unfortunate lunch, as it turned out, for Carfew engaged himself in the almost heartbreaking task of inducing a Northern ironmaster to take an uncommercial risk.
Yet Gray's made the finest artificial paving the world has seen, and there was no reason why, under vigorous management, the firm should not succeed. Gray's briquettes were fireproof; they were dustproof; they deteriorated to the action neither of sun, moon, star, nor of any other solar manifestation; rain they laughed at ”