“Do you mean by ‘questionable proceeding’ your coming here?—­or do you refer to the firm’s position in this matter?” asked Selwyn sharply.  “Because, Draymore, I am not very widely experienced in the customs and usages of commercial life, and I do not know whether it is usual for an associate member of a firm to express, unauthorised, his views on matters concerning the firm to any Tom, Dick, and Harry who questions him.”

“But you know what is the policy of your own firm,” suggested Harmon, wincing, and displaying his teeth under his bright red lips; “and all we wish to know is, what Neergard expects us to pay for this rascally lesson in the a-b-c of Long Island realty.”

“I don’t know,” replied Selwyn, bitterly annoyed, “what Mr. Neergard proposes to do.  And if I did I should refer you to him.”

“May I ask,” began Orchil, “whether the land will be ultimately for sale?”

“Oh, everything’s always for sale,” broke in Mottly impatiently; “what’s the use of asking that?  What you meant to inquire was the price we’re expected to pay for this masterly squeeze in realty.”

“And to that,” replied Selwyn more sharply still, “I must answer again that I don’t know.  I know nothing about it; I did not know that Mr. Neergard had acquired control of the property; I don’t know what he means to do with it.  And, gentlemen, may I ask why you feel at liberty to come to me instead of to Mr. Neergard?”

“A desire to deal with one of our own kind, I suppose,” returned Draymore bluntly.  “And, for that matter,” he said, turning to the others, “we might have known that Captain Selwyn could have had no hand in and no knowledge of such an underbred and dirty—­”

Harmon plucked him by the sleeve, but Draymore shook him off, his little piggish eyes sparkling.

“What do I care!” he sneered, losing his temper; “we’re in the clutches of a vulgar, skinflint Dutchman, and he’ll wring us dry whether or not we curse him out.  Didn’t I tell you that Philip Selwyn had nothing to do with it?  If he had, and I was wrong, our journey here might as well have been made to Neergard’s office.  For any man who will do such a filthy thing—­”

“One moment, Draymore,” cut in Selwyn; and his voice rang unpleasantly; “if you are simply complaining because you have been outwitted, go ahead; but if you think there has been any really dirty business in this matter, go to Mr. Neergard.  Otherwise, being his associate, I shall not only decline to listen but also ask you to leave my apartments.”

“Captain Selwyn is perfectly right,” observed Orchil coolly.  “Do you think, Draymore, that it is very good taste in you to come into a man’s place and begin slanging and cursing a member of his firm for crooked work?”

“Besides,” added Mottly, “it’s not crooked; it’s only contemptible.  Anyway, we know with whom we have to deal, now; but some of you fellows must do the dealing—­I’d rather pay and keep away than ask Neergard to go easy—­and have him do it.”