"A perfectly mad scheme. He doesn't recognise defeat even yet. Has he met Mr. Preston?"
"I daresay in the olden time, but not now. Preston refuses to see him."
Does Preston refuse to see you?"
"No, I don't think so; still, I can't be sure. He has got us just where he wants us, and I suppose there's no necessity for seeing either of us. Very likely he would refuse to see me."
Well, in that case I shall make an appointment with him on my own behalf. As I told you, I own twenty thousand shares of the Great Southern Railway, and, therefore, Mr. Preston, general manager, cannot very well ignore me. In a situation such as you find yourself I always advise, as you know, a compromise. Save something out of the wreck. Give the other fellow what he wants—he'll take it, anyhow—and get what you can in exchange for complacency. I shall ask Mr. Preston to make an appointment the day after to-morrow, at any hour that best suits him, when he can receive Sir Phillip Sanderson, yourself, and myself."
"Oh, he won't receive Sir Phillip."
"It will do no harm to ask him, and I shall ask. As soon as I learn, I will telegraph to you, and you can arrange with Sir Phillip to come up to town at the hour appointed, meeting me at Mr. John W. Preston's office in the Great Southern Railway building. I shall bring with me a cheque for
