Chapter 10 - Page 2

Le Neve had little to suggest of any practical value. It wasn't his
fault, Tyrrel knew; engineering was slack, and many good men were
looking out for appointments. In these crowded days, it's a foolish
mistake to suppose that energy, industry, ability, and integrity are
necessarily successful. To insure success you must have influence,
opportunity, and good luck as well, to back them. Without these, not
even the invaluable quality of unscrupulousness itself is secure from
failure.

If only Walter Tyrrel could have got his friend to accept such terms,
indeed, he would gladly, for Cleer's sake, have asked Le Neve to marry
on an allowance of half the Penmorgan rent-roll. But in this
commercial age, such quixotic arrangements are simply impossible. So
Tyrrel set to work with fiery zeal to find out what openings were just
then to be had; and first of all for that purpose he went to call on a
parliamentary friend of his, Sir Edward Jones, the fat and good-
natured chairman of the Great North Midland Railway. Tyrrel was a
shareholder whose vote was worth considering, and he supported the
Board with unwavering loyalty.

Sir Edward was therefore all attention, and listened with sympathy to
Tyrrel's glowing account of his friend's engineering energy and
talent. When he'd finished his eulogy, however, the practical railway
magnate crossed his fat hands and put in, with very common-sense
dryness, "If he's so clever as all that, why doesn't he have a shot at
this Wharfedale Viaduct?"

Walter Tyrrel drew back a little surprised. The Wharfedale Viaduct was
a question just then in everybody's mouth. But what a question! Why,
it was one of the great engineering works of the age; and it was
informally understood that the company were prepared to receive plans
and designs from any competent person. There came the rub, though.
Would Eustace have a chance in such a competition as that? Much as he
believed in his old school-fellow, Tyrrel hesitated and reflected. "My
friend's young, of course," he said, after a pause. "He's had very
little experience--comparatively, I mean--to the greatness of the
undertaking."

Sir Edward pursed his fat lips. It's a trick with your railway kings.
"Well, young men are often more inventive than old ones," he answered,
slowly. "Youth has ideas; middle age has experience. In a matter like
this, my own belief is, the ideas count for most. Yes, if I were you,
Tyrrel, I'd ask your friend to consider it."

"You would?" Walter cried, brightening up.

"Aye, that I would," the great railway-man answered, still more
confidently than before, rubbing his fat hands reflectively. "It's a