War-time Silhouettes | Page 8

a time the two men seemed to draw nearer to each other, until one day Tarleton suggested that Klein should dine with him. Over a cigar in the club smoking-room, the secretary for the first time expressed himself freely to his colleague.
"I feel I ought to tell you, Klein, that at first I was foolish enough to feel a little--"
He broke off, hesitating to use a word which might hurt the other's feelings.
"I know exactly what you mean, Tarleton, and I do not in the least blame you. You are probably not aware that many of us Alsatians have German names, but if you knew more of my life you would know what good cause I have for hating the Germans more than any Englishman can possibly hate them. Some day, perhaps, I shall have a chance of telling you."
Klein's eyes flashed under their drooping lids. Tarleton warmed to him and began to talk about the committee and especially about the chairman.
"This has been a tremendous eye-opener to me, Klein," he said. "I must tell you that, in my innocence, I never imagined that the proceedings of a committee could be conducted in such a fashion. I must confess I do not understand the object of it."
Klein smiled significantly.
"I do," he remarked.
"What do you mean, Klein?"
"It is quite simple. There are things which the Government does not desire to be known, and that is why they selected a man like Bale for chairman. You see, Tarleton, we're accustomed to that sort of thing in France."
"But we aren't," remarked Tarleton, "and I think it's--something ought to be done," he added.
"Something can be done," said Klein.
"How?"
"I suppose you've heard of Blum & Co.?"
The secretary stared at him. "No, I've never heard of them."
"Well, Blum & Co. is Sir Matthew's firm, and Mr. Blum would be an exceedingly interesting witness."
Tarleton almost jumped out of his chair. "Good Lord!" he said excitedly, "you don't mean--"
"I mean just exactly that," Klein continued in his heavy way. "Moritz Blum is Bale's partner, and he's one of the biggest scamps in the City. Now supposing I give the tip to a member of the committee to call him."
Tarleton could hardly believe his ears. Here was retribution for Sir Matthew with a vengeance! But he hesitated.
"Would it be square, do you think? I mean, wouldn't it be treacherous towards the chairman?"
"That seems to depend upon which you put first--the chairman or the country. For my part, the only thing that matters is that if we are able to expose anything that helps the enemy, we should do so, and here's our chance."
"D'you really mean that, Klein?"
"Mean it? Of course I mean it. Blum & Co. are amongst the largest shareholders in the Swedenborg Coal and Iron Smelting Company, in Stockholm; they have sold and are selling thousands of tons of pig-iron to the German Government. What do you say to that?"
"How on earth do you know?" ejaculated Tarleton almost breathlessly.
Klein fixed his eyes on the other significantly.
"I haven't been in the City for twelve years for nothing," he answered.
"It's a difficult position for me." Tarleton spoke reflectively. "Loyalty to one's chairman is a tradition in the Government service. And though I despise Bale, I don't see my way to expose him. You see, it means the ruin of all his hopes."
"Tant pis pour lui. Doesn't he always say himself our first duty is to consider the true interest of the nation? Now, is it in the true interest of the nation that the Germans should get this pig-iron? Tell me that, Tarleton."
The secretary made no reply. Indeed, none was needed, for the answer was obvious.
* * * * *
Two days later there was an important meeting of the committee, at which a full attendance had been specially requested by the chairman. A question had been raised at the previous sitting by one of the Labour Members who had desired to hear certain evidence, but the witness had suddenly left the country. The Labour Members had withdrawn to discuss the matter privately, and on their return showed that their suspicions had been aroused. On a motion by the chairman the meeting had been adjourned for four days.
All Sir Matthew's resourcefulness had been needed to avert for the time further discussion. Before the next meeting he and the minister involved would get together and discover a means of putting inconvenient questioners off the scent.
The committee took their seats. The chairman now spoke in his smoothest tone, his manner was genial and urbane. He smiled towards Mr. Small, the recalcitrant committee-man, as he glanced at the notes under his hand prepared by Tarleton.
"Gentlemen, at the last meeting my friend Mr. Small took exception to the fact that a certain witness had--er--left the country--er--before we had an opportunity of examining him. I