MR. SMEETH IS WORRIED 481

"No, I'm not. I'm thinking of other fellows who—
cr—work in a big way/* said Mr. Dersingham, rather
vaguely.

"Suppose Mr. Golspie leaves us? I can't help think-
ing about that, you know, sir/'

"Why should he? My hat!—he's doing well, isn't
he? He's making more out of this firm than I am, just
now. No, I know what you're thinking, Smeeth, and I
know what you're going to say. You mean, there's
nothing to prevent him walking over to some other firm
in our business, if they made it worth his while. Or
another thing. He might sell out the whole agency—he's
got a tight grip on that, y'know, Smeeth; I know that
for a fact—for this Baltic stuff to somebody else, and then
clear out."

'That's right, sir. I thought of both those things."

"And so did I, Smeeth. Don't you worry about that.
I don't blame you for being cautious—does you credit,
and I know you're a good safe chap—but you mustn't
think I was born yesterday, you know. I don't pretend
to be one of these born City men, the real old cunning
sharks—that's not my style at all, Smeeth, and if I could
afford it, I'd be out of business to-morrow and be in some
snug little country place—but I've had some experience
and I'm no fool, y'know. Oh no!" he cried confidently
to Mr- Smeeth and perhaps to the listening gods. "I've
thought about that for some time, and this morning,
when he brought up this commission idea and wanted
to clear our account at one swoop, for that's what it
amounts to—though he's earned it fairly, y'know, we
must admit that-I tackled him on those points."

"Oh, I'm glad about that, Mr. Dersingham," said Mr.
Smeeth, greatly relieved.

Q*