was concerned.

"They have got a pretty penny saved too," went on Mr. Jacobi, not in
the least silenced by Malcolm's lack of interest. "Gyp told me a thing
or two about that. It seems they had a farm in Cornwall"--here he
sniffed at his scentless orchid with an air of enjoyment, a habit of
his when his subject interested him. "It was a rotten concern--farm
buildings out of repair, and a few scrubby fields with more stones than
grass. Miss Templeton was just going to sell it for a mere song when
some one discovered tin. My word, those few acres rose in value! Gyp
declared they realised quite a small fortune on it. That was only three
or four years ago."

"Indeed," returned Malcolm drily; "if you will pardon my speaking
plainly, Mr. Jacobi, I do not think the Misses Templeton's business
affairs are any concern of ours, and I would prefer to talk on any
other subject."

This was too manifest a hint to be disregarded even by the
irrepressible Jacobi; but the next minute Malcolm added, "Will you
excuse my leaving you, I see some old friends of mine on their way to
the Pool, and they will expect me to join them;" but if Malcolm
intended to do so, he chose a most circuitous route.

"Rum chap that," observed Saul Jacobi, turning on his heel--"not easy
to get any information out of him; looks as though he had swallowed the
poker first, and then the tongs as a sort of relish afterwards, and
neither of them agreed with him. I wonder what young Templeton saw in
him. He lays it on pretty thick too: it is Herrick this and Herrick
that, as though he were Solomon in all his glory. Confound his airs and
impudence! Let me tell you, my young gentleman," with a sly smile,
"that the Misses Templeton's private business is a matter that concerns
Saul Jacobi pretty closely."

Meanwhile Malcolm was in a white heat of righteous indignation.

"That wretched little cad, how dare he meddle and pry into the Misses
Templeton's family affairs! There is something I mistrust in the man;
he is smooth and plausible, but he is crafty too; he is deep--deep--and
if I do not mistake, he is clever too."

Then he added, "I must get hold of Cedric; I am not comfortable at his
associating with this man. Cedric is as weak as water; he is so easily
led, he would be the dupe of any designing person; but the Jacobis will
have to reckon with me;" and here Malcolm, who had uttered the last
words aloud, stopped and looked rather foolish, as a merry laugh
greet