malcolm grey stood somewhat uncomfortably outside the little office on the seashore, hardly knowing what to do. in some vague way the features of the person who called himself ephraim bark were familiar, though he could not place the man. he would have stayed a little longer, only he seemed to be in the way; it looked, too, as if he were listening to a private conversation. he knew arnold rent by reputation and personally. he was aware that the latter had the character of a man about town, not too scrupulous where his passions and fancies were concerned. one or two strange tales had come to grey's ears, though, at the time, he had paid small heed to them. and here was a man, whom no gentleman would touch without gloves, actually speaking as if he held some power over rent. no man who did not feel positive of his ground would have spoken in that bullying way, especially as the fellow gave every indication of being a coward if he came to be tackled.
at any other time grey would have dismissed the incident with a shrug of the shoulders, but he had his own reasons now for learning all he could concerning the past history of arnold rent. therefore he lingered to see what was likely to be the upshot of the interview.
he saw swift's hands clenched with passion. he saw the desire to strike down the intruder gleaming in his eyes. then swift restrained himself, as if suddenly remembering that this was an occasion when diplomacy was wiser than strength.
"it is useless for you to hang about here," swift said. "mr. rent is not in the neighbourhood, and i don't suppose he will be back before morning. you can come and see him if you like, but i should not advise you to do so."
"that's all very well," the aggrieved bark burst out. "but what am i to do in the meantime? and why should he have everything while i've got nothing? by the time i have had my dinner i sha'n't have a cent to pay my lodgings. just hand over a sovereign or two to go on with. do you hear?"
"i hear," swift said coldly. "i regret that i have no money to spare. and i don't think i should let you have it if i had. come, clear out, or i'll have to put you off the premises."
for the moment it looked as if the truculent bark would show fight, but he contented himself with vague threats and innuendoes as he turned on his heel and sauntered away. grey no longer doubted that the man had a powerful hold on arnold rent. he waited a few moments, discussing general matters with swift; then he, too, strode into the road and followed bark. there was no occasion to introduce himself to this individual, for, without a moment's hesitation, bark raised his curly brimmed hat with what he believed to be refined and courtly politeness. grey pulled up at once.
"you'll excuse me, mr. grey," bark said effusively, "but i hope you won't mind doing me a little favour?"
"you know my name, then?" grey said. "i ought to recognise you, but my memory plays me false."
a look of deep cunning came into bark's eyes.
"you can't know me, sir," he said, "considering that most of my life has been passed in paris. but i know you by sight and reputation, because i am by way of being a bit of a scientist myself. i came down to see mr. rent, and this is how they treat me! and to think of what i've done for that man, to think of what i know about him! why, i have only to raise my little finger and say the word, and before a day passed our friend——"
a judicious fit of coughing put an end to further revelations on the part of bark. he seemed to realise that he was going too far and instantly changed his tone. but this did not deceive grey.
"ah!" said bark, "i am talking too fast, as usual. you might think by my tone that i was threatening mr. rent. as a matter of fact, i am only disappointed at his carelessness. but it is very awkward for me. here am i with only a few shillings in my pocket, which would have been fifty pounds if i had seen mr. rent. now, will you be offended if i ask you for the loan of a fiver for two or three days?"
grey hesitated for a moment. would the expenditure be justified? then, by inspiration, it occurred to him that perhaps tanza might know this plausible scamp. certainly it might be worth while to temporise.
"i am sorry," he said, "but i have very little money in my pocket. i can let you have ten shillings, if you like."
bark audibly expressed his disappointment.
"well, perhaps i can do better than that," grey, said, with a smile. "let me give you the ten shillings to go on with, and if you will be on the landing-stage to-night at nine o'clock i will meet you and give you the balance of the five pounds. i suppose that will be convenient?"
bark's eyes gleamed with a greedy light.
"spoken like a man and a brother," he cried. "now, there's a pal for you! there's a friend in need when a poor chap is down on his luck through no fault of his own! mr. grey, you're a gentleman. and it is evident you know another gentleman when you see him."
"i hope so," grey said drily.
"that being so," said bark, ignoring the sarcasm, "i will be on the landing-stage at nine o'clock. thank you very much. in my hard-up state even the half-sovereign is acceptable. you will excuse me if i leave you, as i have an appointment to keep, a business matter involving thousands."
so saying, bark, with another flourish of his hat, swaggered off down the street. grey smiled to himself as he saw the flashy little adventurer turn into a public-house. then, in a thoughtful frame of mind, he went back to the yacht in search of tanza, whom he found sprawling in a deck chair, deeply engrossed in his eternal cigarettes and reading a french novel.
"what news?" the italian asked gaily. "i see you have had an interesting morning by the expression of your face. at any rate, your conversation will be more engrossing than this book. now unbosom yourself."
"there isn't much to tell you at present," said grey. "i have been following up my investigations and have ascertained one or two important pieces of information. i rather wanted to see rent, but he is away. i went down to his place, where i found an old friend of ours in the person of john swift."
"oh, indeed!" tanza exclaimed, lifting his eyebrows. "now that is a man who was made to adorn anything he touched. if he could only keep away from the infernal drink he might now have been one of our leading scientists. what is he doing in these parts?"
"acting as assistant to rent," grey explained. "but that isn't what i wanted to talk to you about. i don't mind telling you i have got hold of a most important clue, and as all roads are said to lead to rome, so everybody i am meeting at present seems to be more or less mixed up with the matter i have in hand. while i was talking to swift a man turned up and demanded to see arnold rent. he was very disappointed to find that rent wasn't at home and was at no pains to disguise his feelings. his manner had a suggestion of blackmail about it. also he seemed to be pretty sure of his ground. i don't suppose i should have given the fellow another thought had i not felt sure i had seen him somewhere. and i thought perhaps that you, with your amazing acquaintance with all sorts and conditions of scoundrels, might know something about him."
"have you managed to learn his name?" tanza asked.
"well, yes, i did, if he doesn't happen to be passing under some alias. he is called ephraim bark. rather a curious sort of name, isn't it?"
"i know him quite well," he said. "that is his name. at any rate, i never heard him called anything else. he is a most plausible and ingenious rascal, and i should very much like to meet him again. i suppose you have his address; if so, we will seek him out and entertain him after dinner."
grey explained exactly what course he had adopted, and tanza was pleased to signify his approval. so it came about that shortly after nine o'clock the two proceeded to the landing-stage. there they found bark arrayed in a somewhat resplendent evening dress, the effect of which, however, was slightly marred by the fact that the linen was exceedingly dingy. but he carried it all off with a truculent air. obviously he had spent a good deal of the half-sovereign in liquid refreshment, and was in a condition which in a less seasoned drinker might have been called an advanced stage of intoxication.
"well, bark," tanza said cheerfully. "so we have met again. no, you needn't trouble to express your gratification. you are coming on board my yacht with mr. grey to give us certain information we are in need of."
"lumme, yes," bark said, with some emotion. "i'll tell you anything. i couldn't refuse an old friend."
