Beat the Devil Page #8

Taxes must be terrific

on a place like that.

What would people

like the Chelms care about taxes

with their kind of money?

I mean, when a family

has been a power

in the city of London

for so long,

one of the great

financial families.

"A power in the city."

You mean- Oh, yes, of course.

One of those Chelms.

I'm surprised you know

about them at all.

Very few people do.

They prefer

to work behind the scenes.

I find it rather hard

to believe

that a man

in your husband's position

would go to Africa

just for the coffee planting.

You're very quick, aren't you?

In point of fact, he isn't.

In point of fact,

he has a very special reason.

So I suspected.

It has to do with...sin.

Sin?

Since the war, my husband

has been almost exclusively

concerned with spiritual values.

He feels that

if he can get away there,

in the heart of Africa,

he will come face to face

with essentials.

He wants to work out

the problem of sin.

Sin?

Why, yes, of course.

Isn't that what we're all

most concerned with?

Sin.

Gwendolen,

what are you doing here?

I thought we were supposed

to meet on the beach.

Harry, I want you to meet Mr.-

My name is Peterson.

I've been having the most

delightful talk to your wife.

She tells me you're- You're

interested in spiritual values.

I myself am

vastly concerned-

Harry, we really

better be going.

You'll excuse us,

Mr. Peterson.

What have you been

telling that man?

Why, nothing, Harry.

He got on to the subject

of religion,

and I just happened to mention

that we usually go

to church on Sunday.

Billy, I-

I think it is high time

you take stock of yourself.

Can you truthfully say

about yourself, I-

I, Billy Dannreuther,

have acted fairly and squarely

to my associates, huh?

But of course he can,

Mr. O'Hara.

Everybody knows Billy

is the soul of honor.

Shut up, sugar.

Perhaps he is the soul of honor

and perhaps appearances

are deceiving.

Do you mind telling me what it

is I'm supposed to have done?

Nothing.

It's your conduct.

Your- Your-

Your conduct doesn't-

Your conduct does

not inspire confidence and-

And confidence, Billy,

is the most important necessity

in an undertaking of our kind.

One may be completely innocent,

but if one's actions

invite suspicion,

one might as well be guilty.

To be trustworthy

is not more important than-

Than to seem to be trustworthy.

Billy, have you done something

you shouldn't have?

Tell me, Billy.

Tell me the truth.

My conduct.

Who do they think I am,

their hired man?

But you are,

you know.

You are

their hired man.

How good and kind of you

to remind me.

How good. How true.

How kind.

Oh, I say, Dannreuther.

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