Page:Barr--Stranleighs millions.djvu/242

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230
STRANLEIGH'S MILLIONS

to me," cried Stranleigh, growing serious at once. As Stranleigh read the typewritten message his brows lowered, and a glow of dull anger burned in his eyes.

"In each of the newspapers this morning," he read, "there is a full-page advertisement of the Honduras Central Rubber Company, whose shares to the extent of a million pounds are offered to the British public. The name of Lord Stranleigh of Wychwood figures in large type as chairman of the board of directors, and there is printed in the prospectus an alleged extract from a letter of yours dated 16th of last month, stating that with the rise of the automobile industry all over the world this company is certain of a most successful career. I happen to know that Isador Isaacstein was endeavouring to promote a company of this kind. Isaacstein's reputation in the City is none too good, but his name does not appear on this prospectus. I have roused up your secretary, who tells me that he knows nothing of your consenting to join such a venture, and that he has written letters from you refusing to have anything to do with it. He has shown me the copy of a letter in which the extract in the prospectus actually occurs. This letter was written on the date mentioned to the Honourable John Hazel, and as I understand you are a guest of Mr. Hazel's, he may perhaps explain to you how this letter came into the hands of people for whom it was not intended. So far as