CHAPTER XL
A little earlier than usual next morning Trent was at his office in
the City, prepared for the worst, and in less than half an hour he
found himself face to face with one of those crises known to most
great financiers at some time or other during their lives. His
credit was not actually assailed, but it was suspended. The general
public did not understand the situation, even those who were in a
measure behind the scenes found it hard to believe that the attack
upon the Bekwando Gold and Land shares was purely a personal one.
For it was Da Souza who had fired the train, who had flung his large
holding of shares upon the market, and, finding them promptly taken
up, had gone about with many pious exclamations of thankfulness and
sinister remarks. Many smaller holders followed suit, and yet never
for a moment did the market waver. Gradually it leaked out that
Scarlett Trent was the buyer, and public interest leaped up at once.
Would Trent be able to face settling-day without putting his vast
holdings upon the market? If so the bulls were going to have the
worst knock they had had for years - and yet - and yet - the murmur
went round from friend to friend - " Sell your Bekwandos."
At midday there came an urgent message from Trent's bankers, and
as he read it he cursed.
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