It was a week into the voyage when Solly Loeb decided it was time to do something to bring matters to a head, to resolve the problem for all time. He had seen Barney occasionally on his strolls about the deck, but Barney had failed to even nod on these occasions. You’d think I hadn’t been instrumental in a large part of his success! Solly thought resentfully the first time it happened; but then he smiled to himself. It’s all part of his scheme, he thought. Well, Reef Investment isn’t going to be all that easy to steal, not with empty threats nor with a cold shoulder when passing on a deck stroll.
Solly occasionally stopped for a brief word with Fay when she was alone or with Leah Primrose on deck, and Barney was elsewhere. It was apparent on those occasions that Fay knew nothing of the reason for the obvious differences between the two men and was completely puzzled by it, but Solly knew Fay to be sufficiently loyal a wife never to question one of Barney’s decisions. Besides, it had to be obvious to Fay that the coolness between the two men was due in some way to business, and Solly knew that Fay left business exclusively to Barney. When they met on deck and Solly ruffled Leah’s hair or picked her up and nuzzled her cheek, Fay made sure the conversation dealt with innocuous subjects, leaving anything connected to business aside. To Solly, this was more than satisfactory; the more Barney thought he had been taken in by Barney’s ploy, the greater the surprise when he advised the foxy little man that he had known his intentions from the start. And the better deal he undoubtedly could make for himself in those circumstances.
It was as the Scott was leaving Walvis Bay after a half day’s pause there for fuel and to replenish a few food supplies, that Solly decided the time was ripe. He had seen that Barney was in a good mood after taking Leah Primrose and Fay for a visit to the town and a shore lunch there; the sea was smooth, the sky was clear, and apparently Leah Primrose had behaved in exemplary fashion ashore. As the anchor was being raised and the ship trembled slightly from the pulsing of the new steam engine, Solly watched Barney kiss the child before her nurse collected her for her nap; then watched Barney step into the saloon bar and seat himself at a corner table. The privacy was perfect; it almost seemed to Solly to be an omen of his success. He sat down beside Barney.
“Barney,” he said.
Barney turned. “Ah. Solly.”
The very friendliness — or at least lack of open enmity — in his tone encouraged Solly to continue, convinced that he had indeed picked the proper time for the meeting.
“Barney,” Solly said in man-to-man fashion, “may I buy you a drink?”
“I’ve already ordered,” Barney said pleasantly, and proceeded to deny his words by turning to the steward waiting patiently beside their table. “A brandy, please.”
Solly held back his temper. He was fully aware in his mind of what Barney was attempting to do. Making a man lose his temper was a sure way of putting him at a disadvantage. It was a smart move when it worked, but Solly determined that it would not work with him. Instead, Solly also ordered a brandy and turned back to Barney once the steward had left, his voice suave.
“Barney,” he said, “I think it’s time we had a talk.”
“Oh?” said Barney, as if rather surprised by the suggestion. “About what?”
“About Reef Investment Company.”
“What about Reef Investment Company?”
To his own complete surprise, Solly heard himself blurt out words he had figured would not be spoken until much further along in the discussion. “You want to buy it, don’t you?”
To Solly’s amazement, Barney laughed in what appeared to be honest and pure enjoyment. “And why would I want to do that?”
Despite his best effort and despite his sworn resolution, Solly could feel himself losing his temper.
“Because it’s a damned good buy!” he said angrily, “and you damned well know it! Have you seen its books?”
“Nobody offered to show them to me,” Barney said a bit sardonically, “but I did take a look at Barnato Investment books — a trifle late, but better late than never — and I must say you did a fair job on the company.” He cocked an eyebrow. “I assume that Barnato’s losses are Reef’s gains, if that’s what you’re trying to say.”
“That’s exactly what I’m trying to say,” Solly said, trying not to sound vicious. “So therefore you know that Reef is a damned strong company! And you can no more avoid trying to get hold of any strong company where you think you have an edge, especially when that company is a competitor, than you can avoid breathing! I know you, Barney!”
Barney waited until the two brandies had been served and the steward had withdrawn. Then he sipped a portion of his brandy and set his glass down. When he looked at Solly there was pity in the glance, but his voice was conversational when he spoke.
“Solly,” he said gently, “you are a fool. So you think my whole plan in confronting you with the Reef situation was simply to try and put myself in a strong position to get control of the company from you? And as cheaply as possible, of course. No doubt you thought that a brilliant negotiator such as you, with a strong company such as Reef behind you, could easily tie poor old Barney Barnato in knots, and end up possibly even controlling both companies, Reef and Barnato Investment.” He shook his head almost sadly. “My dear nephew, I have been trying to put you in a position where you might pay an honest debt — a dishonest debt, really, but never mind — and still escape with some semblance of respect, as well as possibly a small portion of your fortune. When I get finished with your precious Reef Investment Company, I’ll be able to buy their shares for a shilling on the pound, if that. Out of love for your mother and in consideration of our family name, I was not intending to attack the company until after you had made proper restitution to Barnato Investment, and had severed all connections with Reef. However, you tempt me strongly to ask the captain to put in to the first port with telegraphic facilities and to wire Harry explaining matters and leaving it to him to begin to raid Reef Investment at once. One consideration in not doing so is that it probably would not leave you enough money to pay back Barnato Investment by the time we dock; but if that’s what you really want, I’ll be glad to accommodate you and Barnato will simply take the loss. Is this what you really wish?”
Solly had grown increasingly pale as Barney had gone on. Barney, rightly considering his question rhetorical, went on.
“If that’s what you want, just say so, and by the time we dock in London I promise you that Reef shares will have fallen to a point where I can picture some of your stockholders waiting for you at the Thameside pier with tar and feathers.” Solly was staring at him as if he were hypnotized. Barney shook his head sadly. “Solly, you were stupid. You were also greedy, as well as vicious. You bit the hand that fed you, a hand that was of your own flesh and blood yet, of your own family. You cheated the people who made you what you are. What kind of a person are you? Do you think I would forgive a person like you, or forget what you did, for the control of ten companies like Reef? You are going to pay your debt to Barnato Investment, to Barnato Brothers, to the Isaacs family, to me personally, and to everything you have disgraced, to the last penny; and if you think being my sister’s son is going to make the slightest difference, you are living in loony heaven!” He finished his drink, signed the chit on the table, and came to his feet. “And now, if you’ll pardon me, I have better things to do with my time than explaining the facts of business ethics to someone like you.”