land, "shortly after Lansing's accident, I wrote to the
secretary, asking some questions, and he doesn't seem to have been
cautious enough in his answer--I have it here. There has been trouble
about the company, and I attended a meeting of some disgusted people
who had put their money into it. They think they might get part of it
back by attacking the promoters, and I'm told that my letter would help
them materially."

"Do you want to help them?"

"In a way, it's natural," said Bland with signs of warmth. "I don't
see why those fellows should be allowed to get off after tricking
people out of the money they've painfully earned."

"How much money have you ever earned?"

Bland laughed.

"You have me there; I haven't been able to buy shares out of my pay.
But I made a pot by taking long chances when I backed an outside horse.
It comes to much the same thing."

"I don't think it does," said Sylvia, with a smile. "But it strikes me
that your explanation isn't quite complete."

"I went to West, instead of to another lawyer, because I thought he
would be acquainted with Lansing's present position; but, while he
agreed that the letter might be valuable to the objectors, he couldn't
help me. The end of it is that I don't want to do anything that might
hurt Lansing."

Sylvia reflected. She hardly thought his loss would seriously
embarrass Bland; she owed Herbert something and might need his aid, and
she did not wish any discredit to be cast upon a connection of hers.

"Well," she said, "I believe Herbert is still to some extent connected
with the company; he can hardly have withdrawn altogether. Anyway, he
had a large interest in it, and I think its management was in his
hands. He might suffer, so to speak, retrospectively."

"Yes," said Bland, "that didn't strike me. You're right; there's only
one course open." He took a paper from his pocket and handed it to
her. "Give that to Lansing, and tell him he may do what he thinks fit
with it."

"You're very generous," said Sylvia, coloring as she took the letter.

"I'm afraid I've behaved badly in not keeping the thing from you; but
you see how I was situated, and you'll have to forgive me."

"That isn't difficult," Sylvia told him.

They walked on in silence for a while; and then Bland looked around at
her.

"There's a thing I must mention. I've had a hint to ask for a certain
post abroad. It is not a very desirable one in some respects, but the
pay's