The Black Moon by Winston Graham Page B

Spry, for instance. But he gave me the impression that he would not wish to be concerned in any ,way with the day-by-day running of the bank or in fact to have his name prominently associated with banking and usury.
    Ross shifted uneasily in his chair. He wondered if this dichotomy of atti tude was likely to prove the basis for a happy marriage. 'I always find,' he said, `that the lesser the gentry the gr eater the pretensions. No doubt the years will bring him wisdom.'
    ‘ Th-these are our first strawberries. With this cold spring they have been slow to ripen. And your own affairs? All is still prospering?'
    `We shall have a fine show of tin at the next Coinage. I have been wondering how this new money coming in might be put to use; a; man who depends on a single venture is more vulnerable to cold winds than One, who spreads his interests.'
    `I would certainly not advise investment in another mine. This time you have triumphed against all odds . You have heard of course the rumour about the other mine you started?'
    `What? Wheal Leisure? No.'
    'It is said that the champion lode, that of red copper, is no longer answering well., It is running, thin and threatening to die. ’
    'I hadn't heard that. And since it is almost on my door step I think it passing strange I should; not have ' Ross stared at hi s friend. `Harries, you always, surprise me: you have the gossip of the county at your fingertips. ’
    'I hope it is gossip, for the sake of the Ventures:' Pascoe spoke a little stiffly.
    `Gossip was the wrong word. But the reason I tend to discount this news is that Will Henshawe is captain there - and a venturer. As you know, he is captain of Grace too and one of my oldest friends. I should halve expected him to have told me if the lode were dying.'
    `No doubt.' Pascoe took off `his spectacles and polished them on his napkin.
    Some drunken men were shouting outside.. There was a scuffle and a sound of blows and someone ran off shouting.
    Ross said: 'No, I had not thought of any further adventure in mining. But there are other outlets for investment. The foundries, shipbuilding, the roads ’
    `I will keep a l-look out, Ross. But , at the moment, with your prosperity so young, perha ps it is not an unwise thing to keep your money safe at a bank as you are doing now. It is easy to withdraw, instantly usable at need, 'In another year perhaps you will have a; greater surplus.
    `In six months I shall have a greater surplus,' Ross said. `Don't forget, except for Henshawe's small stake, I own the mine entirely.
    'Perhaps I am always a trifle the pessimist,' said Pascoe, putting back his spectacles. `But maybe that -is one o f the necessary characteristics of a b-ba n ker. I do not like th is war and what it is doing to us, even though it may bring a temporary, prosperity. In order to destroy this system which we so much detest we are creating conditions over here which run contrary to our dearest p— principles. This new move of Pitt's, the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, strikes at the heart of our freedom. Imprisonment wit hout trial - it is going back two hundred years! And this huge army we are raising; it is not a levee en masse like France's, but the m-methods of raising it are as unsavoury. Kidnapping; debauchery, bribery, any way of enlisting men. And Pitt is borrowing, borrowing at exorbitant rates to finance the war, taxes are heavy, I know,- but more taxes would be better`. As it is, he is mortgaging the future. I don't like a policy which, whatever its intentions, b-bears hardest on the, poor.'
    Ross said: `You know you are speaking to the converted or perhaps you would not be speaking at all. But I have changed my views a small matter in the last two years. At first Burke's thunderings failed to impress, me. But one by one I have watched them come true. This is an evil that we face. When I fought in America I remained unconvinced half the time of what I was fighting for. I would fight much more readily this