Jephson?"
*4
14 LOVE INSURANCE
"Jephson," cried Mr. Thacker wildly. "Are you mad ? Do you realize—"
"I realize everything, Thacker," said Jephson calmly. "I have your lordship's word that the young lady is at present determined on this alliance ? And that you will do all in your power to keep her to her intention ?"
You have my wcwrd," said Lord Harrowby. If you should care to telegraph—"
Your word is sufficient," said Jephson. "Mr. Minot, will you be kind enough to bring me a policy blank?"
"See here, Jephson," foamed Thacker. "What if this thing should get into the newspapers? We'd be the laughing-stock of the business world."
"It mustn't," said Jephson coolly.
"It might," roared Thacker.
Mr. Minot arrived with a blank policy, and Mr. Jephson sat down at the young man's desk.
"One minute," said Thacker. "The faith of you two gentlemen in each other is touching, but I take it the milleimium is still a few years off." He drew toward him a blank sheet of pa-
A SPORTING PROPOSITION 15
per, and wrote. "I want this thing done in a businesslike way, if it's to be done in my office." He handed the sheet of paper to Lord Harrowby. "Will you read that, please ?" he said.
"Certainly." His lordship read: "I hereby agree that in the interval until my wedding with Miss C3mthia Meyrick next Tuesday week I will do all in my power to put through the match, and that should the wedding be called off through any subsequent direct act of mine, I will forfeit all claims on Lloyds."
"Will you sign that, please?" requested Mr. Thacker.
"With pleasure." His lordship reached for a pen.
"You and I, Richard," said Mr. Thacker, "will sign as witnesses. Now, Jephson, go ahead with your fool policy."
Mr. Jephson looked up thoughtfully.
"Shall I say, your lordship," he asked, "that if, two weeks from to-day the wedding has not taken place, and has absolutely no prospect of taking place, I owe you seventy-five thousand poimds ?"
"Yes." His lordship nodded. "Provided, of
course, I have not forfeited by reason of this agreement. I shall write you a check, Mr. Jeph-son."
For a time there was no sound in the room save the scratching of two pens, while Mr. Thacker gazed open-mouthed at Mr. Minot, and Mr. Minot light-heartedly smiled back. Then Mr. Jephson reached for a blotter.
"I shall attend to the London end of this when I reach there five days hence," he said. "Perhaps I can find another underwriter to share the risk with me."
The transaction was completed, and his lordship rose to go.
"I am at the Plaza," he said, "if any difficulty should arise. But I sail to-night for San Marco —on the yacht of a friend." He crossed over and took Mr. Jephson's hand. *T can only hope, with all my heart," he finished feelingly, "that you never have to pay this policy."
"We're with your lordship there," said Mr. Thacker sharply.
"Ah—^you have been very kind," replied Lord Harrowby.
1 comment