ly. "Punsonby's has been on the verge of
collapse for eight years. Let's get square, Mr. White. Punsonby's is a
one man company and you're that man. Its balance sheets are faked, its
reserves are non-existent. Its sinking fund is _spurlos versenkt_."

"Sir!"

"I tell you I know Punsonby's--I've had the best accountants in London
working out your position, and I know you live from hand to mouth and
that the margin between your business and bankruptcy is as near as the
margin between you and prison."

Mr. White was very pale.

"But that isn't my business and I dare say that the money van Heerden
paid you this morning will stave off your creditors. Anyway, I'm not
running a Pure Business Campaign. I'm running a campaign against your
German friend van Heerden."

"A German?" said the virtuous Mr. White in loud astonishment. "Surely
not--a Holland gentleman----"

"He's a German and you know it. You've been financing him in a scheme to
ruin the greater part of Europe and the United States, to say nothing of
Canada, South America, India and Australia."

"I protest against such an inhuman charge," said Mr. White solemnly, and
he rose. "I cannot stay here any longer----"

"If you go I'll lay information against you," said Beale. "I'm in dead
earnest, so you can go or stay. First of all, I want to know in what
form you received the money?"

"By cheque," replied White in a flurry.

"On what bank?"

"The London branch of the Swedland National Bank."

"A secret branch of the Dresdner Bank," said Beale. "That's promising.
Has Doctor Van Heerden ever paid you money before?"

By now Mr. White was the most tractable of witnesses. All his old
assurance had vanished, and his answers were almost apologetic in tone.

"Yes, Mr. Beale, small sums."

"On what bank?"

"On my own bank."

"Good again. Have you ever known that he had an account elsewhere--for
example, you advanced him a very considerable sum of money; was your
cheque cleared through the Swedland National Bank?"

"No, sir--through my own bank."

Beale fingered his chin.

"Money this morning and he took his loss in good part--that can only
mean one thing." He nodded. "Mr. White, you have supplied me with
valuable information."

"I trust I have said nothing which may--ah--incriminate one who has
invariably treated me with the highest respect," Mr. White hastened to
say.

"Not more than he is incriminated," smiled Stanford. "One more question.
You know th