“You are all against me!” Agatha exclaimed, looking at the others.  “You have let Mr. Stormont cajole you!”

“I don’t know that we have been cajoled,” Leeson answered with a doubtful smile.  “In a sense, however, we are against you.  We are business men and must protect our interests in the best way we can.”

“Trusting Mr. Stormont is not the best way,” Agatha rejoined, without regarding Scott’s amusement and George’s frown.

“I’m afraid we must call the meeting,” Gardner broke in.  “We hoped you would have met us, Miss Strange, because you are bound to lose when we take a formal vote.”

Agatha felt desperate and glanced at Thirlwell; if he could do nothing else, he could sympathize.  He gave her an encouraging smile as he got up, for he knew his time had come and had been silent because he wanted to let Stormont reveal his plans.  The latter, however, obviously meant to leave the argument to his dupes.  Agatha, noting his confidence, remembered that when they reached the office he had asked her to wait a few minutes while he talked to the secretary.

“Mr. Stormont made two rash statements,” he said.  “He told us the reserved shares could not be sold, and that he could count upon a majority.”

“I object to Mr. Thirlwell’s speaking,” Stormont said with some alarm.  “We allowed him to stay at Miss Strange’s request, but the manager has no vote.”

“I imagine Mr. Stormont doesn’t know I am a shareholder.  Perhaps the secretary will enlighten him.”

Stormont started, Scott smiled, and George looked surprised.  The others waited anxiously.

“Mr. Thirlwell holds a quantity of our stock.”

“How much?” Stormont asked, and when the secretary told him, struggled to preserve his calm.

“The reserved block is sold,” Thirlwell resumed.  “I bought the shares half an hour since for myself and a friend of mine.”  He paused and put a stamped document on the table.  “Here’s my authority to use the proxy votes.”

He sat down and Scott remarked:  “I think Mr. Stormont will admit that the majority has, so to speak, changed sides!”

Stormont examined the register, and then stood by his chair with his fist clenched.  He said nothing, his supporters looked embarrassed, and Agatha saw that Thirlwell had saved the situation.  Her heart beat with confused emotion; she had known he would not fail her.

“Well,” said George, rather dryly, “do you still demand a meeting?”

“Certainly not,” said Gardner with frank relief, and the others murmured agreement.  Then he turned to Agatha:  “I’d like you to understand that we took the line we did because it seemed the only plan.  Now, however, there’s no necessity for making the combine.”

Stormont gave him a savage look.  “This means that you and the others turn me down?”

“It means that we want to save our money,” Gardner replied, and Stormont, who said nothing, walked out of the room.