But I come to that later. First there was the Board.
Here was where that Lord Plowden that I told you about--the
man that came over on the ship with me--came in.
I went to him. I--God! I was desperate--but I hadn't
much of an idea he'd consent. But he did! He listened
to me, and I told him how I'd been robbed, and how the
Syndicate would have cut my throat if I hadn't pulled
away,--and he said, 'Why, yes, I'll go on your Board.'
Then I told him more about it, and presently he said he'd
get me another man of title--a sky-scraper of a title
too--to be my Chairman. That's the Marquis of Chaldon,
a tremendous diplomatic swell, you know, Ambassador at
Vienna in his time, and Lord Lieutenant and all sorts
of things, but willing to gather in his five hundred a year,
all the same."

"Do you mean that YOU pay HIM five hundred pounds a year?"
asked the sister.

"Yes, I've got a live Markiss who works for me at ten
quid a week, and a few extras. The other Directors get
three hundred. This Lord Plowden is one of them--but I'll
tell you more about him later on. Then there's Watkin,
he's a small accountant Finsbury way; and Davidson,
he's a wine-merchant who used to belong to a big firm
in Dundee, but gets along the best way he can on a very
dicky business here in London, now. And then there's
General Kervick, awfully well-connected old chap, they say,
but I guess he needs all he can get. He's started wearing
his fur-coat already. Well, that's my Board. I couldn't