Thompson went to Vancouver to spy out the land. He made no confidants.
He went about the Terminal City with his mouth shut and his ears and
eyes open. What he saw and heard soon convinced him that like the
Israelites of old he stood upon the border of a land which--for his
business purpose--flowed with milk and honey. It was easy to weave air
castles. He could visualize a future for himself in Vancouver that
loomed big--if he could but make the proper arrangements at the other
end; that is to say, with Mr. John P. Henderson, President of the Summit
Motors Corporation. Thompson had faith enough in himself to believe he
could make such an arrangement, daring as it seemed when he got down to
actual figures.
It gave him a curious sense of relief to find Tommy Ashe flirting with
the Petit Six people, apparently forgetful of the Summit specifications.
Thompson hadn't quite taken as his gospel the sound business ethic that
you must look out for number one first, last and always. If Tommy had
broached the subject personally, if he had shown anxiety to acquire
selling rights in the Summit, Thompson would have felt impelled by sheer
loyalty of friendship to help Tommy secure the agency. That would have
been quixotic, of course. Nevertheless, he would have done it, because
not to do it would have seemed like taking a mean advantage. As it was-For the rest he warmed to the sheer beauty of the spot. Vancouver
spreads largely over rolling hills and little peninsular juttings into
the sea. From its eminences there sweep unequalled views over the Gulf
of Georgia and northwestward along towering mountain ranges upon whose
lower slopes the firs and cedars marshal themselves in green battalions.
From his hotel window he would gaze in contented abstraction over the
tidal surges through the First Narrows and the tall masts of shipping in
a spacious harbor, landlocked and secure, stretching away like a great
blue lagoon with motor craft and ferries and squat tugs for waterfowl.
Thompson loved the forest as a man loves pleasant, familiar things, and
next to the woods his affection turned to the sea. Here, at his hand,
were both in all their primal grandeur. He was very sure he would like
Vancouver.
Whether the fact that he encountered the Carrs before he was three days
in town, had dinner at their home, and took Sophie once to luncheon at
the Granada Grill, had anything to do with this conclusion deponent
sayeth not. To be sure he learned with the first frank gleam in Sophie's
gray eyes that she still held for him that mysterious pulse-quickening
lure, that for him her presence was sufficient to stir a glow no other
woman had ever succeeded in kindling ever so briefly. But he had
acquired poise, confidence, a self-mastery not to be disputed. He said
to himself that he could stand the gaff now. He could face facts. And
he said to himself further, a little wistfully, that Sophie Carr was
worth all the pangs she had ever given him--more.