ith Jackson, Vernon?"

"I did not get on at all, Sir Robert. He will not touch the thing on any
terms, and indeed means to oppose it tooth and nail."

"Then he will find himself in a minority when the articles come out
to-morrow. Of course it is a bore, but we are strong enough to snap our
fingers at him. You see they don't read _The Judge_ in France, and no
one has ever heard of it in Constantinople. Therefore we have nothing to
fear--so long as we stick together," he added meaningly.

Alan felt that the crisis had come. He must speak now or for ever hold
his peace; indeed Aylward was already looking round for his hat.

"Sir Robert and Mr. Haswell," he broke in rather nervously, "I have
something to say to you, something unpleasant," and he paused.

"Then please say it at once, Vernon. I want to dress for dinner, I am
going to the theatre to-night and must dine early," replied Aylward in a
voice of the utmost unconcern.

"It is, Sir Robert," went on Alan with a rush, "that I do not like the
lines upon which this business is being worked, and I wish to give up my
interest in it and retire from the firm, as I have a right to do under
our deed of partnership."

"Have you?" said Aylward. "Really, I forget. But, my dear fellow, do not
think that we should wish to keep you for one moment against your will.
Only, might I ask, has that old puritan, Jackson, hypnotized you, or is
it a case of sudden madness after influenza?"

"Neither," answered Alan sternly, for although he might be diffident on
matters that he did not thoroughly understand, he was not a man to brook
trifling or impertinence. "It is what I have said, no more nor less. I
am not satisfied either as to the capitalization or as to the guarantee
that the enterprise can be really carried out. Further"--and he
paused,--"Further, I should like what I have never yet been able to
obtain, more information as to that Firman under which the concession is
granted."

For one moment a sort of tremor passed over Sir Robert's impassive
countenance, while Mr. Haswell uttered his windy whistle, this time in a
tone of plaintive remonstrance.

"As you have formally resigned your membership of the firm, I do not see
that any useful purpose can be served by discussing such matters.
The fullest explanations, of course, we should have been willing to
give----"

"My dear Alan," broke in Mr. Champers-Haswell, who was quite upset, "I
do implore you to reflect for one moment,