We owe you that credit, Mr. Ryder!"

Cries of "Hear! Hear!" came from all round the table.

Ryder bowed coldly, and Mr. Grimsby continued: "But during the
last year or two things have gone wrong. There has been a lot of
litigation, most of which has gone against us, and it has cost a
heap of money. It reduced the last quarterly dividend very
considerably, and the new complication--this Auburndale suit,
which also has gone against us--is going to make a still bigger
hole in our exchequer. Gentlemen, I don't want to be a prophet of
misfortune, but I'll tell you this--unless something is done to
stop this hostility in the courts you and I stand to lose every
cent we have invested in the road. This suit which we have just
lost means a number of others. What I would ask our chairman is
what has become of his former good relations with the Supreme
Court, what has become of his influence, which never failed us.
What are these rumours regarding Judge Rossmore? He is charged in
the newspapers with having accepted a present from a road in whose
favour he handed down a very valuable decision. How is it that our
road cannot reach Judge Rossmore and make him presents?"

The speaker sat down, flushed and breathless. The expression on
every face showed that the anxiety was general. The directors
glanced at Ryder, but his face was expressionless as marble.
Apparently he took not the slightest interest in this matter which
so agitated his colleagues.

Another director rose. He was a better speaker than Mr. Grimsby,
but his voice had a hard, rasping quality that smote the ears