"I have a reason," said Sir William, "the strongest, for believing that there will be peace." Pateley looked at him. "Give me a proof?" he said, with the accent of a man who is wasting no words, no intentions. Sir William's hand tightened over the paper. "If I gave you a proof," he said, "would you swear not to take any proceedings against the 'Equator' Company?" "If you gave me a proof, yes--I would swear," said Pateley. "And you will keep the things out of the papers," Sir William went on hurriedly, "till I have had time to see my way?" "Yes," said Pateley again. "And my name shall not appear in the matter?" "No--no," Pateley said, in spite of himself breathlessly and hurriedly, more excited than he wished to show. Sir William paused and looked towards the window. "All right," said Pateley, "you have time. Quick! What is it?" "There is going," Sir William said, "I am almost certain, to be an understanding, an agreement between England and Germany about this business in Africa." "Impossible!" said Pateley. "Yes," said Sir William, hardly audibly. "Give me the proof," Pateley said, coming close to him and in his excitement making a movement as though to take the paper out of Gore's hand. "Wait, wait!" Sir William said. "No, you mustn't do that!" and he staggered and leant back against the chimneypiece. Pateley had no time to waste in sympathy. "Look here, if you don't give it to me, show me what it is." "Yes, yes, I will show it you," Sir William said, "only you are not to take it, you are not to touch it." Pateley signed assent, and Sir William unfolded the map of Africa and held it up with a trembling hand. "What!" said Pateley, at first hardly grasping what he saw. Then its full significance began to dawn upon him. "Africa--a partition of Africa between Germany and England! Do you mean to say that is it?" "Yes," Sir William said. "But for Heaven's sake don't touch it, don't take it out of my hand," he said again, nervously conscious that his own strength was ebbing at every moment, and that if the resolute, dominant figure before him had chosen to seize on the paper, nothing could have prevented his doing so. "Well, at any rate, let me have a good look at it," Pateley said, "the coast is still clear," and as he went to the window to give another look out, he took something out of his breast pocket. "Now then," he said, turning back to Sir William, "hold it up in the light so that I can have a good look at it;" and as Sir William held it in the light of the window, Pateley, as quick as lightning, drew his tiny camera out of his pocket. There was a click, and the map of Africa had been photographed. Pateley unconsciously drew a quick breath of relief as he put the machine back. Sir William, as white as a sheet, dropped his hands in dismay. "Good Heavens! What have you done? Have you photographed it?"