So putting in his transmission switch, which caused the big vacuum globes to light up and the generator to hum again, he took up the microphone transmitter, and replied in a sharp clear voice:

"Hulloa, 3.T.M.! This is 3.X.Q. answering. Thank you very much for the message from Barclay--I will keep the appointment to-morrow. 3.X.Q.

switching off."

Why did Barclay wish to see him so urgently? Perhaps the urgency had not occurred until the post-office had closed, hence he had been unable to send a telegram. And at the Rectory there was no telephone, save that splendidly equipped radio-phone.

Little did Roddy Homfray suspect that Mr Purcell Sandys was faced with ruin, that Elma knew of the impending disaster, and that there was a reason--a very clear and distinct reason--why she and her father were neither of them "at home" when he had called.

Black ruin had fallen upon the great financial house of Sandys and Hornton, a fact of which, though Roddy was in ignorance, Gordon Gray, alias Rex Rutherford, and his accomplices were well aware, and were about to turn to their own advantage.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

RUTHERFORD MAKES A PROPOSITION.

On that evening when Roddy was told that neither Mr Sandys nor Elma was at home both father and daughter were, as a matter of fact, seated together in the library. Mr Sandys had by that time been able to ascertain pretty nearly the extent of his firm's liabilities, and was in complete despair.

Elma was kneeling beside her father with her arm lovingly around his neck, n.o.bly trying to comfort him.

She had confessed her affection for Roddy, and had spoken of the young man's high hopes and aspirations, and shown her father a hasty letter she had received from him announcing the fact that the concession for emerald mining had actually been granted to him by the Moorish Minister, Mohammed ben Mussa.

A new thought arose in Mr Sandys' mind. If Roddy had really been granted the concession for the mines known to exist there--and he had made some searching inquiries during the past week or so--then by dealing with it he might, after all, be able to raise sufficient money to discharge part of the immense liabilities of the firm, and thus stem the tide which must otherwise rise in the course of the next few days and overwhelm him.

Elma's father spoke quite openly concerning the situation.

"In that case Roddy could marry me, dad," she said. "And further, even if he had no concession, I am poor enough now to marry a poor man," she added.

"Yes, my child," was his reply. "If what young Homfray says is true then he can be the saviour of our firm and of our family. I confess I have taken a great liking to the young fellow. I have liked him all along."

Then Elma flung herself into her father's arms and kissed him again and again, with tears of joy. Strangely enough her father's ruin had brought about her own happiness.

It was at that moment when the footman entered, and said:

"Mr Homfray has called, sir, and I told him that you were not at home, as you ordered."

Elma looked at her father dismayed.

"Has he gone?" she gasped, her face falling.

"Yes, miss. He called about five minutes ago."

And then the man bowed and retired, while the girl, turning to her father, remarked:

"How very unfortunate, dad! I wanted to tell him the good news. But now it must wait until to-morrow. Good-night, dad. Cheer up now, won't you, dearest? This is a black cloud, but it will pa.s.s, as all clouds pa.s.s sooner or later, and the sun shines out again." And kissing him the girl ran off joyously to her own room.

Roddy rose early, as was his wont, and went into his wireless-room, as was his habit each morning to listen to the transatlantic messages, and those from Moscow, Nantes and the rest. His eye rested upon the sensitive little set in the cigar-box, and it occurred to him to test it that day as a portable set in the train and elsewhere.

His train arrived at Guildford from Haslemere soon after ten o'clock, therefore he left the station, and climbing the old disused coach-road known as the Mount, reached the long range of hills called the Hog's Back. There, upon the wide gra.s.s-grown road which has not been used for nearly a century, he threw up his aerial wire into a high elm and placing in position his ground wire soldered to a long steel skewer he put on the telephones, holding the box in his left hand while he turned the condensers with his right.

At once he heard the voice of the radio-telephone operator at Croydon, the shrewd, alert expert with the rolling r's, calling Le Bourget.

Signals were excellent. He listened for ten minutes or so and then, drawing down his temporary aerial and withdrawing the skewer from the wet earth, put the cigar-box into the pocket of his raincoat and descended the hill to the station.

Upon the platform he awaited the incoming train from Waterloo, and was determined to be at home at five o'clock to meet Edna Manners. The train arrived but without Barclay, so he strolled out into the yard to await the next.

In the meantime, however, another striking incident was happening at Park Lane.

Old Hughes, summoned to the door, opened it to the smiling, well-dressed Mr Rex Rutherford.

"Will you tell Mr Sandys I'm here. And apologise for my early call. I have come on rather pressing business," he said briskly.

"Very well, sir," replied Lord Farncombe's old butler rather stiffly, taking his hat and umbrella, and asking him into the library.

A couple of minutes later the bearded old financier entered with outstretched hand, and smiling.

"I really must apologise, Mr Sandys," Rutherford said. "It's awfully early, I know, but between business men the hour, early or late, doesn't really count--does it? At least, we say so in New York."

"I agree," said Mr Sandys with a smile, and then when both were seated, Rutherford said:

"I've come to you, Mr Sandys, with a very important proposition--one in which you will at once see big money--the concession for some ancient emerald mines in Morocco."

"Do you mean the Wad Sus mines?" asked Sandys, much surprised.

"Yes. I have arranged with my friend, His Excellency Mohammed ben Mussa, the Moorish Minister of the Interior, for a concession in perpetuity over the whole region, subject to a payment on results to His Majesty the Sultan."

"I really don't understand you," exclaimed Elma's father, looking straight in his face. "A concession has already been granted to a young man of my acquaintance, Mr Homfray."

"Not of the same mines--ancient ones, from which one big dark-coloured emerald has quite recently been taken? That can't be?"

"But it is."

"Have you seen this concession given to your friend, Mr Homfray? I don't know who he is, but I fear it is not worth the paper it is written upon, because here I have a concession which revokes all previous ones, and which will make it penal for anyone who attempts to trespa.s.s as a prospector in any part of the Wad Sus region! Here it is! Look for yourself," he said, taking the sealed doc.u.ment from his pocket and handing it to the astonished financier. "Of course," he added, "if the affair is too small for your attention, Mr Sandys, I can easily negotiate it elsewhere. But as we are friends, I thought I would let you have its refusal."

Purcell Sandys was utterly staggered. He knew French well, and at a glance he convinced himself that the doc.u.ment was genuine.

"And not only have we the concession, but here also is a plan of the exact situation of the mines, together with a statement from one of the Touareg tribesmen, Ben Chaib Benuis, with its French translation. The man, a trusted messenger of the Moorish Government, has quite recently been upon the spot, and has brought back a very large and valuable emerald which is in the possession of an ex-Moorish official at Tangier, and can be seen any day."

Mr Sandys scanned the French translation and sat back in wonder.

It was quite evident that the concession granted to young Homfray--if there had ever been one--was worthless, for there was the sealed doc.u.ment dated only a few days before which rescinded every other grant made by the Moorish Government.

"I, of course, know nothing of your friend Mr Homfray," remarked Rutherford. "But I fear that if he attempts to prospect in the Wad Sus he will be at once arrested. I alone hold the only concession in that district," and slowly picking up both the formidable-looking doc.u.ments, he carefully refolded them and replaced them in his pocket.

"Well, Mr Rutherford," said the pale, thoughtful old financier at last.

"I confess I am very much puzzled, and before entering upon this affair as a matter of business I would first like to look into young Homfray's claims."

"Very naturally," laughed the easy-going Rutherford. "I should do so myself in the circ.u.mstances. I fear, however, that the young man, whoever he is, has somewhat misled you. I'll look in and see you to-morrow morning--about this time--eh?" he added as he rose and left, while Mr Sandys sat speechless and puzzled.

When Rutherford had gone he called Elma and told her of his visit.

"What? That man here again?" cried the girl. "He can't have any valid concession. Roddy has it. He would never write a lie to _me_!"