Jacques Futrelle

“ Smith’s unembroidered Passaic mind. Mr. Smith sat down gingerly.
“I have come to you on a little matter of business, Monsieur,” the Marquis said slowly, impressively. “I come from M. Clarke.”
“Oh!” Mr. Smith stared at him for an instant, then rose and paced the length of the lobby twice with his fingers gripped behind him. When he paused in front of the Marquis, his eyes had grown steely, his powerful jaws were set. “What business?” he demanded abruptly.
Marquis d’Aubigny permitted his wicked little eyes to wander about the lobby. There was no one in sight except the night clerk. ”

“ You take your chance with the rest of us. There are ninety-nine reasons why we should make a profit, and only one why we shouldn’t. If we fail, of course M. Clarke is ruined, I am ruined, all of us; but we won’t fail.”
“If you get the bonds,” Mr. Smith stipulated.
“We have the utmost faith in your discretion, Monsieur. One hundred thousand dollars is a great fortune.”
“You seem to have no doubt that I have the bonds,” Mr. Smith observed calmly. ”

“ Smith shortly. “Go on!”
IT is not for us, Monsieur, to ask you how you got possession of the bonds, or to go into trivial details to show how we came to know that you have them. Neither is it necessary to touch upon your personal relations with M. Clarke. It is enough to say that you have misunderstood him. He is an honest man, as you are. A vast business deal has been interrupted by your unexpected interference. It is a deal that will bring an enormous profit. ”