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'The man came to me within hours of the contract having been
signed, and asked to withdraw. I refused, made him go through with
it.' Max paused and swallowed convulsively. 'Alana, I don't know
what got into me; it was greed, sheer undiluted greed, but I made
him go through with it!' Perspiration began to spread over his brow.
That he suffered greatly from a guilty conscience was more than
evident.
'It was the most reprehensible thing '
'I know it! - oh, but I know it, Alana!' He put his hands to his eyes
and his shoulders heaved. Alana felt her own eyes prick; to see a
man so close to tears affected her so strongly that she herself wanted
to cry.
'I was intending to say, before you interrupted me, Max, that
although it was a reprehensible act on your part, there really is no
need to fear Conon. You say he has threatened you, and that you'll
tell me what form his blackmail takes. But, Max - dear Max, he has
no hold on you at all
'The contract was not at the time valid.' Slowly he spoke, and
deliberately, looking at her now, his lips trembling, so deeply was
he affected by emotion. 'I knew it wasn't right, but the old man
didn't.' Appalled by this added admission, Alana said, her mouth dry
and her words scarcely discernible,
'
You - you hoaxed him - hoaxed him, as well...?'
'I did, Alana.'
'So you can be prosecuted?'
'That is so. And if I am I shall not only serve a long sentence, here in
a Greek prison, but I shall have to repay the money - not that I paid
for the land, of course, but that I received for it The business will be
gone!'
'Gone ...' It wasn't possible! Max had recently expanded the
business, opening branches in Canada and Australia. He was one of
the most respected property dealers in London, his integrity
considered to be beyond question. All who came to him with the
intention of buying property abroad came with confidence and
complete trust, so unblemished was. his record. And yet this blot
had been there all the time. It struck Alana just how little she knew
about him. But he was sorry, and in her opinion this proved that he
was by no means wicked. He had been young at the time of that
property deal; his business was on the rocks. Temptation had been
strong and he had not been able to resist it, but she had no doubts at
all that he would be quite able to resist temptation now. 'It can't go,
Max, not your wonderful business .. Her voice trailed away to
silence as he shook his head in a sort of anguished gesture.
'I must face it, Alana, I'm finished!'
'No!' She moved to touch his sleeve. 'You haven't told me what form
this blackmail is to take. You said you would tell me later. Explain,
Max. I'm sure there's a way out of this mess.'
He turned from her and her hand fell to her side. This was a
dramatic moment even though she merely sensed the drama of it,
being unable to put her finger on anything concrete.
There is a way out,' he said in tones husky with emotion. 'But I'm
not prepared to tell you what it is '
'You said you would,' she broke in almost accusingly. 'You've told
me so much that you must tell me the rest - you must!'
'I can't.' His voice was firm and Alana, having thought of something
else that might help, left the matter in abeyance for the moment.
'Max,' she said a little breathlessly, her lovely eyes alight with hope,
'you have a great deal of money now, and you could borrow the rest,
Fm sure. You could then repay the money - to the son, I mean.'
When at length he did speak his voice was husky with self-
condemnation and regret.
'He - he committed suicide, Alana ' Giving an audible sob, he
turned away and for a few convulsive moments his shoulders shook
uncontrollably. 'I didn't know this until Conon told me tonight. Can't
you see, Alana, just how I'm going to be regarded? I've killed a
man!' She could not speak, so full did she feel. Max gave another
small sob and said, 'I've suffered, and shall continue to do so until
my dying day!'
'I do believe you!' she cried, swiftly so as to afford him some
modicum of relief from his conscience. 'Don't be so upset, Max. I
can't bear to see you like this.' She felt a lump rising in her throat,
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