Edgar Wallace

“ And it was the dream of Carfew's life to initiate a London newspaper. It is the dream of every well-balanced journalist's life.
There is no journal that was ever printed that the average newspaper man could not improve upon. And the million and a half pounds! ”

“ He smiled again pityingly.
"Money does not count, believe me," he said seriously. "There are three men in the Agreeable Company, and if you were to add their fortunes together, they would— But I will only say that I am the poorest of the trio."
Again there was that odd little mannerism, for he repeated, speaking to himself in a voice which was scarcely more than a whisper: "The poorest of the trio—the poorest of the trio!"
Now, Carfew was by every instinct a journalist. ”

“ Carfew, bewildered, hastened to collect them.
"Money," said the strange visitor bitterly—"money! Do we live for nothing but money? Is that the be-all and end-all of things? Is that the ultimate aim of humanity? Take it—keep it! Add it to your pony store. Tell your friends that Septimus of the Agreeable Company made you a present of it!" ”

“ A million and a half is a lot of money; people would say that we were mad, not knowing about the S.S. I insist upon some form of security."
"I protest!" Decimus was very angry, but Carfew had now recovered his grip of the situation.
"I think Mr. Octavius is perfectly justified," he said. "I have security up to six thousand pounds, but beyond that I can promise nothing."
"More than enough, and altogether unnecessary—altogether unnecessary," said Decimus shortly. "You agree, Septimus?" ”

“ You have a title to fame more wonderful, more extraordinary, more far-reaching for humanity; you have attracted the attention of three men of gifts. Sir, will you honour us with your company this night? ”

“ No word said Septimus, Octavius, or Decimus.
"Pleasant evening," said the smiling intruder. "You know me, Tony!"
Octavius gave a sickly smile.
"I know you, Mr. Smith," he said—"it's a cop!"
"A fair cop," said T. B. Smith, of Scotland Yard, vulgarly. "I want you three. My men have got your gorgeous pal. You've got some money, I think, belonging to this gentleman. Thank you ... if you don't mind."
With a dexterity born of practice, he snapped a pair of handcuffs on the delicate wrists of Octavius.
"You're the only dangerous man of the bunch, Tony," said Mr. Smith in extenuation. ”

“ He was a footman of imposing proportions. Clean-shaven, with a quiet dignity of mien, he wore a livery such as the personal attendant of a reigning monarch might have adopted. His coat was of royal blue velvet, thickly laced with gold, his breeches were of white satin, his stockings of rose-pink silk. On his feet he wore the shiniest of patent shoes, adorned with jewelled buckles that flashed back the light of the candle as only diamonds can. ”

“ Carfew was indifferent to the opinion of the hall-porter, being in that stage of superiority which allowed him to wear heliotrope socks without shame.
People came to see him—people who wanted to render him invaluable services. Some wished to lead him to the private road which cuts off ten miles of the dreary path to fortune; some had ideas that only wanted money. ”

“ He raised a little snuffer imploringly.
"Seven candles!" he muttered, with an angry sniff. "It is a monstrous waste!" Then of a sudden he checked himself. "Security," he said shortly, and turned his head to his companion—"ask him about security."
"My dear Octavius!" Decimus was reproachful.
"It is an elementary safeguard, an elementary precaution," persisted the other doggedly. "He may be a man of substance—he may not be. ”

“ Septimus, with a fine sweep of his hand. "A busy man—I am no hog."
He seemed pleased with the negative illustration, and repeated in a whisper that he was no hog.
"Mr. Carfew," the visitor went on, "I have heard of you. You are the man who negotiated the sale of a certain patent, receiving as your share of the sale many thousands of pounds." ”

“ Those three friends of yours are confidence tricksters. They work for big money, and are always prepared to spend a thousand to get six. They played on your imagination with their mysteries, their millions. ”

“ His money enabled him to indulge his taste in his own particular ideas, which ran in the direction of the Burlington Arcade, and took expression in artistic cravats and socks that spoke for themselves.
It is a grand thing to be rich, to be able to write "pay bearer five thousand pounds" without running the risk of being arrested. ”

“ Carfew nodded, and Decimus repeated the nod. So, too, did Septimus, and even the other man absently jerked his head. Decimus smoothed a newspaper cutting that lay under his hand.
"I read," he said, "that great interest has been created in City circles by a deal which the brilliant young journalist, Felix Carfew—I am quoting the cutting—made on behalf of Colonel Withington, the inventor. The paragraph goes on to say—
"‘The advent of a financial genius is an event which should not be passed unnoticed. We understand that Mr. ”