"Mr. Dodge, I never dreamt that self-consciousness was a failing of the members of the Stock Exchange." 

"Then that was the cause. I guessed it. I have been making inquiries about you, Mr. Bruce, and there is no use in trying to fool you, not a bit." 

"Have you another Springbok proposition on hand?" 

"No; bar chaffing. You were the man who ferreted out the truth about that West Australian combination when everybody else had failed. And, now I think of it, you made me talk a lot the last time you were here. However, I am ready. Fire away! I will tell you the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me--" 

"Sh-s-sh! Do not perjure yourself for the sake of alliteration. Besides, it is I who have come to talk this time."Ah, that chap Corbett. I have been thinking about him. I wonder who he can be? Anyhow, I owe him my best wishes, as the mention of his name has had such excellent results."
"Well, that is all," said Bruce rising.
"Yes, thanks. I must now see about raising the money to pay my own call. I am interested in fifty thousand shares, you know."
"Then you require some £7,500?"
"Yes. But that will be easy when I can say that the Anglo-African Finance people are with me. Besides, this morning--queer you should call immediately afterwards--I have had some wholly unexpected news."
"Indeed?" Mr. Dodge was in a talkative vein, and Bruce was in no hurry.
"The very best!" went on Dodge gleefully. "You see, there is another man in this affair with me. I thought he was as stony-broke as I am myself--speaking confidentially, you know--when he suddenly writes to me saying that he had won a pot of money at Monte Carlo and could spare me £2,000. What's the matter? Beastly trying weather, isn't it? Try a nip of brandy."
For once in his life the self-possessed barrister had blanched at a sudden revelation. But this was too much. He felt as though a meteorite had fallen on his head. Nevertheless, he grappled with the situation.
"Ill! No!" he cried. "How stupid of me. I have forgotten my morning smoke. May I light a cigar?"
"With pleasure. You know these. Try one."
"You were saying--"
"That's all. This young fellow, Mensmore his name is, got mixed up with me over a Californian mine. I thought he had lots of coin, so when Springboks came along he and I went shares in underwriting them. The public didn't feed, so we were loaded. I tried all I knew to get him to pay up, but he absolutely couldn't. And now at the very moment affairs look promising he writes offering £2,000. More than that, he says, if necessary, he can get the remainder of his half, £1750, from 

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