Sean thought Duff was going to argue, but he didn't.

They talked to the gardener a little longer, then they walked back across the lawns in front of the house towards the chapel. Dufford, I've left my parasol in the carriage, would you mind getting it for me? Candy asked.

When Duff was gone Candy took Sean's arm. It's going to be a lovely home. We're going to be very happy here. Have you two decided on a date yet? Sean asked.

We want the house finished first so we can move straight in. I think we'll make it some time in February next year. )

They reached the chapel and stopped in front of it. It's a sweet little church. Candy spoke dreamily. And such a nice idea of Dufford's, a special church of our own! Sean shuffled uncomfortably. Yes, he agreed, it's a very romantic idea. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Duff coming back with the parasol. Candy, it's none of my business. I don't know anything about marriage, but I know about training horses you break them to the halter before you put the saddle on their backs. I don't follow you. Candy looked puzzled. What are you trying to say? Nothing, just forget it. Here comes Duff. When they got back to the hotel there was a note at the reception desk for Sean. They went through into the main lounge and Candy went off to check the menu for dinner.

Sean opened the envelope and read the note:I should like to meet you and Mr Charleywood to discuss a matter of some importance. I will be at my hotel after dinner this evening and hope that it will be convenient for you to call on me then. N. Hradsky.

Sean pa.s.sed the note across to Duff.

What do you suppose he wants? He has heard of your deadly skill as a Klabejas player.

He wants to take -lessons, Duff answered. Shall we go? Of course. You know I can't resist Norman's exhilarating company. It was a superb dinner. The crayfish, packed in ice, had come up from Capetown by express coach.

Candy, Sean and I are going across to see Hradsky.

We might be back a little late, Duff told her when they were finished. As long as it's Hradsky, Candy smiled at him. Don't get lost, I have my spies at the Opera House you know. Shall we take the carriage? Duff asked Sean, and Sean noticed that he hadn't laughed at Candy's joke. It's only two blocks, we might as well walk. They walked in silence. Sean felt his dinner settling down comfortably inside him, he belched softly and took another puff from his cigar. When they had almost reached the Grand National Hotel Duff spoke.

Sean... He stopped.

Yes? Sean prompted him.

About Candy... He stopped again.

She's a fine girl, Sean prompted again. Yes, she's a fine girl. Is that all you wanted to say? Well, oh!

never mind. Let's go and see what Saul and David want.

Max met them at the door of Hradsky's suite. Good evening, gentlemen, I am so pleased you could come. h.e.l.lo, Max. Duff went past him to where Hradsky was standing in front of the fireplace. Norman, my dear fellow, how are you?

Hradsky nodded an acknowledgement and Duff took hold of the lapels of Hradsky's coat and adjusted them carefully; then he picked an imaginary piece of fluff off his shoulder. You have a way with clothes, Norman. Don't you agree that Norman has a way with clothes, Sean? I know of no one else who can put on a twenty-guinea suit and make it look like a half-filled-bag of oranges. He patted Hradsky's arm affectionately. Yes, thank you, I will have a drink. He went across to the liquor cabinet and poured one for himself. Now, what can you gentlemen do for me?

Max glanced at Hradsky and Hradsky nodded.

I'll will come to the point immediately, said Max.

Duff put his gla.s.s back on top of the cabinet and dropped his grin.

Sean sat down in one of the armchairs, his expression also serious; both of them could guess what was coming. In the past, continued Max, we have worked together on numerous occasions and we have both benefited from it. The next logical step, of course, is to combine our strength, pool our resources and go on together to new greatness. I take it that you are proposing a merger? Precisely, Mr Courtney, a merger of these two vast financial ventures. Sean leaned back in his chair and started to whistle softly. Duff picked up his gla.s.s again and took a sip.

Well, gentlemen, what are your feelings on the subject? asked Max. Have you got a proposal worked out, Max, something definite for us to think about! Yes, Mr Courtney, I have. Max went to the stinkwood desk which filled one corner of the room and picked up a sheaf of papers. He carried it across to Sean. Sean scanned through it. You've done quite a bit of work here, Max. It's going to take us a day or two to work out exactly what you are offering. I appreciate that, Mr Courtney. Take as long as you wish. We have worked for a month to draw up that scheme and I hope our labours have not been in vain. I think you will find our offer very generous.

Sean stood up.

We'll contact you again in the next few days, Max.

Shall we go, Duff ?

Duff finished his drink. Goodnight, Max, look after Norman. He's very precious to us, you know. They went to their building on Eloff Street. Sean let them in through one of the side doors, lit the lamps in his office and Duff pulled up an extra chair to the desk.

By two o'clock the following morning they understood the essentials of Hradsky's offer. Sean stood up and went to open one of the windows, for the room was thick with cigar smoke. He came back and flopped onto the couch, arranged a cushion behind his head and looked at Duff. Let's hear what you've got to say Duff tapped his teeth with a pencil while he arranged his words. Let's decide first if we want to join with him If he makes it worth our while, we do! Sean answered. I agree with you, but only if he makes it worth our while. Duff Laid back in his chair. Now the next point.

Tell me, laddie, what is the first thing that strikes you about this scheme of Norman's? We get nice-sounding t.i.tles and fat cash payments and Hradsky gets control, Sean answered. You have laid your finger on the heart of it, Norman wants control. More than money, Norman wants control so that he can sit at the top of the pile, look down on everyone else and say, "All right, you b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, what if I do stutter? " Duff stood up, he walked round the desk and stopped in front of Sean's couch. Now for my next question. Do we give him control?

'If he pays our price, then we give him control, Sean answered. Duff turned away and went across to the open window. You know I rather like the feeling of being top man myself, he said thoughtfully. Listen, Duff, we came here to make money. If we go in with Hradsky we'll make more, Sean said. Laddie, we've got so much now that we could fill this room waist deep in sovereigns. We've got more than we'll ever be able to spend and I like being top man. Hradsky's more powerful than we are, let's face up to that. He's got his diamond interests as well, so you're not top man even now. If we join him you still won't be top man but you'll be a d.a.m.n sight richer Una.s.sailable logic, Duff nodded. I agree with you then. Hradsky gets control but he pays for it; we'll put him through the wringer until he's dry. Sean swung his legs off the couch. Agreed, now let's take this scheme of his by the throat, tear it to pieces and build it up again to suit ourselves. Duff looked at his watch. It's after two o'clock. We'll leave it now and start on it when we're fresh in the morning. They had their lunch brought down to the office the next day, and ate it at the desk. Johnson, who had been sent up to the Stock Exchange with instructions to keep an eye on prices and call them immediately anything out of the ordinary happened, reported back after high change. It's been as quiet as a graveyard all day, sir, there's all sorts of rumours flying about. Seems someone saw the lights burning in this office at two o'clock this morning.

Then when you didn't come to the Exchange but sent me instead, well, I can tell you, sir, there were a lot of questions asked. Johnson hesitated, then his curiosity got the better of him. Can I help you at all, sir? He started sidling across towards the desk. I think we can manage on our own, Johnson. Shut the door as you go out, please. At half-past seven they decided it was enough for one day and they went back to the hotel. As they walked into the lobby Sean saw Trevor Heyns disappear into the lounge and heard his voice. Here they are! Almost immediately Trevor appeared again with his brother.

h.e.l.lo, boys, Jock appeared surprised to see them. What are you doing here? We live here, said Duff. Oh, yes, of course. Well, come and have a drink with us. Jock smiled expansively. And then you can pump us and find out what we've been doing all day, Duff suggested.

Jock looked embarra.s.sed. I don't know what you mean, I just thought we'd have a drink together, that's all. Thanks all the same, Jock, we've had a hard day. I think we'll just go on up to bed, Duff said. They were halfway across the lobby before Duff turned back to where the two brothers were standing.

I'll tell you boys something, he said in a stage whisper.

This is really big, it's so big it takes a while for the mind to grasp it. When you two realize that it's been right there under your noses all the time, you're going to kick yourselves They left the Heyns brothers in the lobby staring after them and went up the stairs.

That wasn't very kind, Sean laughed. They won't sleep for a week. When neither Sean nor Duff put in an appearance at the Exchange the next morning, the nimours surged round the members lounge and the prices started running amok. Reliable information that Sean and Duff had struck a rich new goldfield across the vaal sent the prices up like rocketing snipe; then twenty minutes later the denial came in and clipped fifteen shillings a share off the Courtney-Charleywood stock. Johnson ran backwards and forwards between the office and the Exchange all morning. By eleven he was so tired he could hardly talk. Don't worry any more, Johnson, Sean told him.

Here's a sovereign, go down to the Grand National and buy yourself a drink, you've had a hard morning. One of Jock. Heyns's men, who had been detailed off to watch the Courtney-Charleywood offices, followed Johnson down to the Grand National and heard him place his order with the Barman. He raced back to the Exchange and reported to Jock. Their head clerk has just gone and ordered himself a bottle of French champagne, he panted. Good G.o.d! Jock nearly jumped out of his chair and beside him Trevor signalled frantically for his clerk. Buy, he whispered in the man's ear. Buy every sc.r.a.p of their script you can lay your hands on. Across the lounge Hradsky settled down a little further in his chair; he clasped his hands contentedly over the front of his stomach and he very nearly smiled.

By midnight Sean and Duff had completed their counter-proposal to Hradsky's offer. How do you think Norman will react to it? asked Sean. I hope his heart is strong enough to stand the shock, Duff grinned. The only reason that his jaw won't hit the floor is that his great gut will be in the way. Shall we go down to his hotel now and show him?

suggested Sean. Laddie, laddie. Duff shook his head sorrowfully. After all the time I've spent on your education, and you still haven't learned. What do we do then? We send for him, laddie, we make him come to us. We play him on the home ground. How does that help? Sean asked. It gives us an advantage immediately, it makes him remember that he's the one doing the asking Hradsky came down to their office at ten o'clock the next morning; he came in state driven behind a four-inhand and attended by Max and two secretaries. Johnson met them at the front door and ushered them into Sean's office. Norman, dear old Norman, I'm delighted to see you, Duff greeted him and, fully aware of the fact that Hradsky never smoked, Duff thrust a cheroot between his lips.

When everyone was seated Sean opened the meeting. Gentlemen, we have spent some time examining your proposition and in the main we find it just, fair and equitable. Hear, hear, Duff agreed politely. At the outset I want to make it quite clear, Sean went on, that Mr Charleywood and myself feel strongly that the union of our two ventures is desirable, nay! essential.

If you will forgive the quotation, "ex unitate vires". Hear, hear, hear, hear. Duff lit his cigar. As I was saying we have examined your proposition and we accept it readily and happily, with the exception of a few minor details which we have listed. Sean picked up the thick pile of paper. Perhaps you would care to glance through it and then we can proceed to the drawingup of a formal agreement. Max accepted the sheaf gingerly. If you want privacy, Mr Charleywood's office which adjoins this room is at your disposal. Hradsky took his band next door and an hour later when he led them back again they looked like a party of pallbearers. Max was on the verge of tears, he cleared the lump from his throat. I think we should examine each item separately, he said sadly, and three days later they shook hands on the deal.

Duff poured the drinks and gave each man a gla.s.s. To the new company, Central Rand Consolidated. It has been a long confinement, gentlemen, but I think we have given birth to a child of which we can be proud.

Hradsky had control, but it had cost him dearly.

Central Rand Consolidated had its christening party on the main floor of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange; ten percent of the shares were put out for sale to the public.

Before the day's dealings began the crowd had overflowed the Stock Exchange building and jammed in the street for a block in each direction. The President of the Exchange read the prospectus of Central Rand Consolidated; in the cathedral hush his every word carried clearly to the members lounge.

The bell rang and still the hush persisted.

Hradsky's authorized clerk broke the silence timidly.

sell C. R. C. s. It was nearly a ma.s.sacre; two hundred men were trying to buy shares from him simultaneously. First his jacket and then his shirt disintegrated beneath the clutching hands; he lost his spectacles, crushed to powdered gla.s.s beneath the trampling feet. Ten minutes later he managed to fight his way out of the crowd and report to his masters, I was able to sell them, gentlemen. Sean and Duff laughed. They had reason to laugh, for in those ten minutes their thirty percent holding in C. R. C. had appreciate in by half a million pounds.

That year Christmas dinner at Candy's Hotel was considerably better than it had been five years previously.

Seventy-five people sat down to it at one table and by three o'clock, when it ended, only half of them were able to stand up. Sean used the banisters to get up the stairs and at the top he told Candy and Duff solemnly, I love you, I love you both desperately, but now I must sleep. He left them and set off down the corridor bouncing against the walls like a trick billiard shot until he ricocheted through the door into his suite. You'd better make sure he's all right, Dufford. A case of the blind drunk leading the blind drunk, said Duff indistinctly, and also employing the wall to wall route followed Sean down the corridor. Sean was sitting on the edge of his bed wrestling with one of his boots.