"That's good, Sir John. That is just what I wanted to hear. Let me explain my motives. They are not complicated. One is that, as one of the chief money-brokers of the world, I naturally want to prevent any financial panic. Next, I am a bit of a sportsman in my way. I like hunting things down. This pursuit appeals to me a good deal. And, last--when I was five-and-thirty, a desperate gang of crooks in San Francisco kidnapped my little daughter Pearl--she that is Duchess of Shropshire now--and held her up to ransom. It was before you took notice, for I'm close on seventy, but the episode created some considerable stir at the time. I can pretty well guess what you are going through now." As he looked at me his eyes were no longer like living steel, nor his jaw like a pike's. So he also knew! I mumbled something or other. "Quite," he answered quickly, and then went on: "In thinking over various ways in which I could be of use I have come to a certain conclusion. Money, I suppose, won't help you--though, of course, any sum is available?" "I have the Government behind me, and I myself am not poor, thank you." "It is as I thought. In England I myself can do nothing _personally_ that others cannot do as well. In America I have every sort of influence...." I looked him in the face. "I am not going to trouble about America in the very least." "Quite! I see what you mean. And I am absolutely of your opinion. Now I'll come to what I _can_ do for you." He rose slowly from his chair and came up to me. When he spoke he had dropped his voice a full tone. "I must let you into one or two little secrets about myself," he said. "In the first place, a man so rich as I am does not become so without making powerful and unscrupulous enemies. Also, American methods are direct. It will probably surprise you to hear that my life has been attempted twelve or fifteen times, but that is the case. Some of the methods were diabolically ingenious, too! However, I stand here to-day, quite unharmed and quite safe. Why? I'll tell you. "Quite early in my successful career I saw what would happen. I watched other men assassinated, and was determined that it shouldn't happen to me. How was it to be avoided? I thought that point out very carefully, and came to a conclusion. I must find, and then attach to my person, someone of extraordinary intelligence, cunning, skill and personal prowess. My ambitions ran high. I wanted someone who would devote his whole life to my service, a familiar spirit, no less! It took me three years of steady work to find that familiar spirit--to discover the exact combination of qualities I required. But a multi-millionaire is the Magician of to-day, and I have a Genie as clever and infallible as any out of the old 'Arabian Nights.' I pay him the salary of a cinema star, and I say, meaning every word of it, that there isn't another like him in the world. Do you think this tall talk, Sir John?"