D’you see that bit about where the money came from? ETCHINGHAM. I didn’t see that. GEORGE WINTER. I’ll read it you, shall I? [_Reading._] “It is stated that Mr. Winter paid eighty thousand pounds for this precious mine. It would perhaps be interesting to inquire how he was able to raise such a sum at a time not only of general stringency, but of peculiar difficulty in the Central American market. Perhaps Mr. Winter, like King Midas, is able to turn into gold everything he touches and he may have been able to change his office furniture into precious metal. Perhaps not.” Childish, isn’t it? Do they think I’m going to let out my little trade secrets to please them? JAMES FORD. But where did you get the money? [ETCHINGHAM _gives a slight start, but_ GEORGE WINTER _remains perfectly cool_. GEORGE WINTER. My dear fellow, you don’t suppose I stole it, do you? That’s where the born financier comes in. He makes money as a conjurer makes a white rabbit appear out of a silk handkerchief. JAMES FORD. [_Drily._] A very satisfactory explanation. [_For an instant, hardly perceptible to the others, the eyes of_ GEORGE WINTER _and_ JAMES FORD _meet_. GEORGE WINTER. But that’s hardly the point, is it? [_During the rest of the scene_ JAMES FORD _is thinking the matter over. His eyes rest on_ GEORGE WINTER _as if he were trying to guess something_. BOYCE. Something must be done at once. GEORGE WINTER. Have the Tories got hold of it? BOYCE. They’re printing the article on posters. GEORGE WINTER. Nuisance, isn’t it? [_He pauses to reflect for a moment._ MR. SWALECLIFFE _breaks in upon his thoughts_. SWALECLIFFE. Is there any truth at all in that article, Mr. Winter? GEORGE WINTER. Not a word. SWALECLIFFE. It puts me in a very awkward position. GEORGE WINTER. What’s the matter with you? SWALECLIFFE. I thought the shares would go to a premium before they were issued. GEORGE WINTER. [_Smiling._] Like the San José tramways, eh? SWALECLIFFE. Mr. Ford says this will--bust the issue. GEORGE WINTER. Nice of him.... Been having a little gamble, have you? SWALECLIFFE. If it was a certainty I didn’t see there could be any harm in it. GEORGE WINTER. [_With a chuckle._] Like playing with loaded dice? How many shares have you applied for? SWALECLIFFE. Five hundred. GEORGE WINTER. Sporting of you. SWALECLIFFE. I didn’t mean to take them up, you understand. I haven’t got more than five hundred pounds in the world. I thought they were bound to go up half a crown and.... GEORGE WINTER. Five hundred half crowns are quite worth having, aren’t they? SWALECLIFFE. It’s been a lesson to me. I’ll never do anything like it again. I shan’t have the chance. If I have to pay for the shares.... GEORGE WINTER. Get my cheque book, Teddie. O’DONNELL. Yes, sir. SWALECLIFFE. What are you going to do? GEORGE WINTER.