iards upon
milliards----"

"In fact, a lot of money," said the practical Dr. Milsom. "'Umph! I
don't quite see how you are going to do it. You haven't taken me very
much into your confidence, van Heerden."

"You know everything."

Milsom chuckled.

"I know that in the safe of my office you have a thousand sealed
envelopes addressed, as I gather, to all the scallywags of the world,
and I know pretty well what you intend doing; but how do you benefit?
And how do I benefit?"

Van Heerden had recovered his self-possession.

"You have already benefited," he said shortly, "more than you could have
hoped."

There was an awkward pause; then Milsom asked:

"What effect is it going to have upon this country?"

"It will ruin England," said van Heerden fervently, and the old
criminal's eyes narrowed.

"'Umph!" he said again, and there was a note in his voice which made van
Heerden look at him quickly.

"This country hasn't done very much for you," he sneered.

"And I haven't done much for this country--yet," countered the other.

The doctor laughed.

"You're turning into a patriot in your old age," he said.

"Something like that," said Milsom easily. "There used to be a fellow at
Portland--you have probably run across him--a clever crook named Homo,
who used to be a parson before he got into trouble."

"I never met the gentleman, and talking of parsons," he said, looking at
his watch, "our own padre is late. But I interrupted you."

"He was a man whose tongue I loathed, and he hated me poisonously," said
Milsom, with a little grimace, "but he used to say that patriotism was
the only form of religion which survived penal servitude. And I suppose
that's the case. I hate the thought of putting this country in wrong."

"You'll get over your scruples," said the other easily. "You are putting
yourself in right, anyway. Think of the beautiful time you're going to
have, my friend."

"I think of nothing else," said Milsom, "but still----" He shook his
head.

Van Heerden had taken up the paper he had brought down and was reading
it, and Milsom noted that he was perusing the produce columns.

"When do we make a start?"

"Next week," said the doctor. "I want to finish up the Paddington
factory and get away."

"Where will you go?"

"I shall go to the Continent," replied van Heerden, folding up the paper
and laying it on the table. "I can conduct operations from there with
greater ease. Gregory goes to Canada. Mi