DESPITE frequent tiffs and an occasional battle-royal like that which has just been described, Inman’s influence with his master strengthened as the days went by. However cunning and suspicious a man may be he is in danger of being outwitted if he has no better weapons than a quick temper and a slow brain to oppose to the coolness and acumen of an alert adversary. And when the adversary protests friendship, and, refusing to be provoked, offers indisputable evidences of loyalty and goodwill, the most churlish nature must be affected, as the continual dropping of water will in course of time smoothen the grittiest rock. Such evidences were too conspicuous to be overlooked for Inman never tired of devising ingenious schemes for crippling the enterprise of the Drakes; and Baldwin stored in his memory an admiration that nothing would have wrung from his lips, as he saw with what subtle ingenuity Inman spread his nets and succeeded in obliterating all traces of his operations. Suspicion there might be, but where concealment was advisable Inman took care there should be no proof. Baldwin reconciled his mind to what was unpalatable in his foreman’s manner because of the Machiavelian service he was rendering to his interests. The one bitter ingredient in the cup of his satisfaction was the knowledge that his competitors—father and son alike—went steadily on their way, undisturbed by all the hindrances that were set in their path. One day towards the end of April Baldwin summoned Inman to the office. The morning’s letters lay open on the desk, and one of them the master held in his hand and perused a second time with a sullen look. “There’s something here I don’t like,” he said when the foreman had obeyed his command to close the door. “John Clegg wants me to hold back my payments this month; says he’s hard put to it what wi’ one and another calling their brass in, and very little new money coming forrad; wants me to gi’ three months bills to Johnsons and Greens and put some o’ t’others off a bit. It’s a nasty look wi’ ’t ’at I don’t fancy.” Inman’s brows contracted. “Is it the first time this has happened?” he asked. “Nay, there was another some years back,” Baldwin replied, “when he wor for holding me up i’ t’ same way; but there wasn’t so much owing then. It’s been a heavy quarter, has this——” “How did you go on, on that occasion?” asked Inman, edging his master back to essentials. “It came all right in the end, I suppose?” “It came all right at t’ time,” explained Baldwin sourly. “I got my back up, and when he saw it he caved in. It wor naught but a try-on; a dodge to diddle me out of a bit o’ interest, I reckon, ’at didn’t come off; and from that day to this all’s gone square. I suppose he thinks I’m getting old and addled now, and he can have another try; damn him.”