nd fruitful acquaintance."

Christopher felt rather at a loss to know if the man meant to be
impertinent or was merely being silly. He looked at Caesar with the
hostile impatience he felt only too apparent. The hostility but not
the impatience deepened as he noticed the drawn beaten look on
Aymer's face. Also he was uncomfortably conscious of the three pairs
of eyes watching him with rapt attention. The mild Mr. Shakleton,
however, seemed entirely obscured by the expansive personality of the
bigger man.

"Confound him," thought Christopher, "has he never seen burrs on a wet
coat before or is my tie up?"

"Christopher," said Aymer, at last, "come and sit by me, will you. I
think I should like to tell you myself." He looked at Mr. Saunderson
as if waiting permission.

"Of course, of course, Mr. Aston. I quite understand. It is not the
sort of news we tell people every day."

Christopher sat on the edge of the sofa with his eyes fixed on Caesar.

"Are you sure it won't keep," he asked abruptly, "you look rather
tired for business, Caesar."

"It won't keep. It concerns Peter Masters. Mr. Saunderson says public
rumour has underestimated his fortune rather than exaggerated it. He
was worth nearly three millions."

"Three millions six hundred and forty-one thousand." Mr. Saunderson
rolled it out in sonorous tones after a little smack of his lips that
set Christopher's teeth on edge.

"It seems, Christopher," Aymer went on, with an abruptness that did
not accord with his opening words, "that it's yours. You are his
heir."

He made not the smallest movement or sign by which the two strangers
could gather one passing glimpse of the agony it cost him to say it,
for their attention was fixed on the younger man. But Christopher saw
nothing else and had thought for nothing but how soonest to quench
that fierce pain.

The preposterous catastrophe was evidently true, but surely his own
will and wishes were of some account. He put his hand on Aymer,
searching for words which would not form into sense.

"Take your time, take your time, young man," broke in Mr. Saunderson's
resonant voice. "It's not the sort of event a man can be hurried over.
You will grasp it more clearly in a few minutes."

Christopher turned and looked at him.

"I believe I quite grasp the matter," he said coolly. "Mr. Masters
has, with no doubt the kindest meaning in the world, left his fortune
to me. It's unfortunate that I don't happen to want al