I enjoy crawling to him every minute of every day? I want to be free

again. I want to be a man again. His voice choked off and his hands

came up and covered his face. He was sobbing. Sean couldn't watch him

and even Duff looked down at the ground in embarrassment. When Max

spoke again it was in his usual soft and sad voice. Mr Courtney, if you

wear your yellow waistcoat to the office tomorrow, I will take it as a

sign that you intend to follow my suggestion and that my terms are

acceptable to you. I will then make the necessary arrangements to ensure

Mr Hradsky's absence from the country. He untied his horse, mounted and

rode away down the track towards the Cape Road. Neither Sean nor Duff

moved to stand up. They listened to the hoof-beats of Max's horse fade

Into the darkness, before Duff spoke. Those bank statements were

genuine, I had a good look at the seals. And even more genuine was

Max's emotion. Sean flicked his cigar away into the bushes. No one

could act that well. it made me feel quite sick listening to him.

Hell, how can a min so cold-bloodedly betray his trust? Laddie, let's

not turn this into a discussion of Max's morals. Let's concern

ourselves with the facts. Norman has been delivered into our hands,

neatly trussed, spiced with garlic and with a sprig of parsley behind

each ear. I say let's cook him and eat him Sean smiled at him. Give me

a few good reasons. I want you to convince me. The way I feel towards

him after that meeting this afternoon I shouldn't be surprised if I

convince easily. fOne, Duff held up a finger. Norman deserves it.

Sean nodded.

TWO, another of Duff's fingers came up. we gain control we can run

things the way we want. You can indulge your good resolution and give

everybody a pay rise and I'll be top man again. Yes! Sean tugged at

his mustache thoughtfully.

We came here to make money, we'll never get another opportunity like

this. And my last reason, but the most potent, you look so beautiful in

that yellow waistcoat, laddie, I wouldn't miss seeing you in it tomorrow

morning, not for a thousand C. R. C. shares. It is rather natty,

admitted Sean. But listen, Duff, I don't want another Lochtkamper

business. Messy, you know Duff stood up. Norman's a big boy, he

wouldn't do that. Anyway, he'll still be rich, he's got his diamond

mines. We'll only be relieving him of his responsibilities on the

Witwatersrand.

They walked across to the horses. Sean had his foot in the stirrup when

he stiffened and exclaimed, My God, I can't do it. It's all off. Why?

Duff was alarmed. I spilt gravy on that waistcoat, I can't possibly

wear it tomorrow. My tailor would murder me. There was no problem in

arranging for Hradsky's absence someone had to go to London. There was

machinery to buy for the new areas on the East Rand and they had to

select two engineers from the hundred or so applicants waiting in

England. Not ungraciously, Hradsky allowed himself to be elected for

the job.

, well] give him a farewell party, Duff suggested to Sean during dinner

that night. Well, not really a farewell party but a wake. Sean started

whistling the Dead Much, and Duff tapped it out on the table with the

handle of his knife.

We'll have it at Candy's Hot, Duff cut himself short. We'll have it

here. We'll really laY it on for poor old Norman so afterwards he'll be

able to say, "the bastards may have cleaned me out, but they certainly

gave me a grand party". He -doesn't like parties, said Sean.

ITha That's an excellent reason why we should give him one, agreed Duff.

A week later when Hradsky and Max left on the morning coach for Port

Natal there were fifty members of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange still

in full evening dress from the night's party to wave him goodbye, Duff

made a touching, if somewhat slurred, little speech and presented

Hradsky with a bouquet of roses. Nervous of the crowd that milled about

them, the horses bolted when the driver cracked his whip and Max and

Hradsky were thrown together in an undignified heap on the rear seat of

the coach. The crowd cheered them out of sight. With an arm around his

shoulder Sean led Duff across the street to the office and deposited him

in one of the deep leather armchairs.

Are you sober enough to talk sense! Sean asked dubiously. Sure. Always

at your service as the lady said to the customer. I managed to have a

word with Max last night, Sean told him. He will send us a telegram

from Port Natal when he and Hradsky are safely on the mailboat. We won't

start anything until we receive it. Very wise, you're the wisest chap I

know, Duff grinned happily.

You'd better go to bed, Sean told him. Too far, mid Duff. I'll sleep

here It was another ten days before Max's telegram arrived.

Sean and Duff were eating lunch in the Rand Club when it was delivered

to their table. Sean slit open the envelope and read the message to

Duff.

Sailing four o'clock this afternoon. Good luck. Max.

I'll drink to that, Duff lifted his wine glass. Tomorrow, said Sean,

I'll go up to the Candy Deep and tell Francois to pull all the men out

of the bottom levels of the mine. No one's to be allowed in. Put a

guard at the fourteenth level, suggested Duff. That'l make it more

impressive. Good idea, agreed Sean. He looked up as someone passed

their table and suddenly he started to smile. Duff, do you know who

that is?

Who are you talking about! Duff looked bewildered. That chap who's

just gone out into the lounge, there he is, going into the lavatorie.

Isn't that Elliott, the newspaper fellow? Editor of the Rand Mail,

nodded Sean. Come with me, DuffWhere are we going? To get a bit of

cheap publicity Duff followed Sean out of the dining-room, across the

lounge and into the men's lavatories. The door of one of the closets

was closed and as they walked in someone farted softly behind it. Sean

winked at Duff and went across to the urinal. As he addressed himself

to it he said, Well, all we can hope for now, Duff, is that Norman will

be able to work a miracle in England. Otherwise, He shrugged his

shoulder. Duff picked up his cue. We're taking a hell of a chance

relying on that. I still say we should sell out now. C. R. C. s were

at ninety-one shillings this morning so it's obvious that the story

hasn't leaked out yet. But when it does you won't be able to give the

bloody shares away. I say we should get out while the going's good.

Sean disagreed. Let's wait until we hear from Norman. It's taking a

bit of a chance, I know, but we have a responsibility to the men working

for us Sean took Duffs arm and led him out of the lavatory again; at the

door he added the cherry to the top of the pie. If and when C. R. C.

collapses there are going to be thousands of men out of work, do you

realize that?

Sean closed the door behind them and they grinned delightedly at each

other.

You're a genius, laddie, whispered Duff.