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The annual general meeting of Strode & Company was an even smaller gatherin g
than the Strode Orient meeting I had attended three months previously. It was
almost entirely a family affair with a few friends and members of the staff to
help fill it out. I doubt whether the shareholders present include d more than
three members of the general public. The directors were already seated at the
top table when we came in, all except Whimbrill. The proceed ings started
promptly at twelve o'clock with the same formal reading of the notice
convening the meeting. Ida's hand touched mine, a quick grip of the fingers.
She was keyed up, leaning slightly forward, her face very tense.
Something of her mood must have communicated itself to me for as Henry Stro de
rose from his seat I found myself suddenly calm, the sort of calm you fe el
when the battle klaxons have gone and the guns' crews closed up.
His conduct of the proceedings was easy, almost casual. He had the air of a
man who had done this so many times before that his words were quite automat
ic. The accounts were passed, his speech taken as read, and then there was a
pause, everybody waiting. Whimbrill slid into his seat, not looking at anyo
ne, his eyes on the table and his face very pale, the burn scars showing liv
id. The traffic in the street outside was loud in the stillness as Henry Str
ode picked up the agenda, glanced at it, tossed it down and then removed his
glasses to face the hall. 'This year two of our directors retire by rotatio n.
My brother George Strode, has served on the board for seventeen years; Co
lonel Hinchcliffe for fourteen. In the interests of the company's future the y
are not offering themselves for re-election and I am sure you will wish me to
express your thanks to them for the long years of service . . .'
Whimbrill was staring up at his chairman with the set expression of a man u
nder sentence, his hands clenched round each end of the ball-point pen he h
eld. The snap of the plastic as it broke was loud against the quiet monoton e
of Henry Strode's voice. 'In their place your company has been offered th e
services of two very able and experienced men.' As he named Slattery and
Wolfe and spoke of their connection with Liass Securities - 'a powerful and
very go-ahead investment group who already have a big stake in your compan y'
- Ida leaned towards me and whispered, 'Those two smug bastards.' She sa
id it elegantly, with a little smile, but the light of battle was in her ey es
as she nodded to where Slattery and Wolfe sat together just across the a isle
from us.
Henry Strode was now proposing their election to the board. He was seconded by
le Fleming and it was then put to the meeting. He nodded as hands were du
tifully raised. 'Against?' Except for Ida and myself there wasn't a soul lef t
in that small gathering to raise their hands in opposition an he didn't ev en
glance at the directors' table where Whimbrill sat, taut-faced and still,
fingering that damaged ear. 'Motion carried.'
I glanced at Whimbrill, waiting. But he sat quite still, his eyes on the table
, making no move. I knew then that it was up to me and I got slowly to my feet
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. 'This is a very vital decision, Mr. Chairman. It affects the whole future of
the company. In the circumstances I think it right to request that votes be c
ounted.'
George Strode tugged at his brother's sleeve and I had scarcely resumed my s
eat when Henry Strode said on a note of cold severity: 'I understand you are
here solely as an employee of Strode Orient to answer certain questions tha t
may be raised later. You are, therefore, out of order l
'I am here as a shareholder,' I said.
He hesitated and then glanced at Whimbrill who, almost reluctantly it seemed
nodded his head. 'Well, it doesn't really matter,' Henry Strode went on sua
vely. 'Since the number voting in favour of the motion is so overwhelming I
see no real necessity -'
'Well, I do.' Ida had risen to her feet. 'I hold forty thousand shares and I'm
not going to stand by and see the company my father built -'
'Kindly sit down, Ida. And remember please that he was my father also.' And in
a quieter tone, facing the body of the hall again, Henry Strode said, 'I
think you should know that the votes supporting the motion total over two hu
ndred and thirty thousand - nearly half the capital of the company.'
'Nevertheless, sir, since it has been challenged' -Whimbrill had at last
decide d to intervene. His tone was diffident but firm. 'It would be advisable
to coun t votes - for the record.'
Henry Strode hesitated. Then he nodded. 'As you please.' He sounded indiffere
nt. But his eyes followed closely as each raised hand gave his name whilst th
e auditor, acting as teller, checked his shareholding. Even in such a small m
eeting it took time. When it came to those against the motion there was only
Ida and myself. The figures were totted up, secretary and auditor conferring
as the directors' proxies were added. At last it was done and Whimbrill rose
slowly to his feet, still pale, still diffident, his voice betraying his nerv
ousness. 'The motion is lost.'
'Lost!' George Strode was on his feet. Several others too. 'Read out the fi
gures,' somebody demanded.
'For the motion - 232,816; against - 241,265.'
George Strode sat down again, a look of bewilderment on his face. His broth er
said something to him and their eyes fastened on Ida and then on me, puz zled,
uneasy, anxious to know where the attack had come from. Finally Georg e Strode
turned to the auditor. 'Only two hands were raised against the mot ion.' He
stared at the man, his head thrust angrily forward like a bull sea rching for
his adversary.
It was Whimbrill who answered him. 'Mrs Roche, as you know, owns forty thou
sand shares, and Commander Bailey -' he glanced at a slip of paper in front of
him - 'holds sixty-seven thousand, two hundred and -' 'Bailey, you say
- but this morning, when you produced that list for us . . .'
'This isn't a recent purchase.'
'How long has he had them then?'
'These shares were purchased over a long period by Mr.
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Lawrence Turner. He gave them to Commander Bailey a few weeks ago.'
'Gave them to him?'
They were all staring at me and if he could have been there I am certain old
Turner would have enjoyed that moment. I got to my feet. 'You will know bet
ter than I,' I said, speaking directly to Henry Strode, 'how closely Mr. Tur
ner was associated with your father. He gave me these shares, in trust as it
were for the future of this company, to be used in just such an eventuality as
this. He died this morning,' I added, a feeling of contempt rising in me [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]