"I see that the Water Company is getting on
very well with its connections. They must have several hundred men at
work there."

Mr. Montague appeared a little startled.

"Well, well! At any rate we shall be able to keep our word. Electric
light and water will be ready for every house as it is built."

"That reminds me of a question I was going to ask you," Jacob went on.
"What price are we going to charge for the electric light?"

"What price?" Montague murmured, balancing a knife upon his forefinger
and watching it meditatively.

"The Company'll have to fix that amongst themselves," Littleham
declared brusquely.

"One or two of the people who've bought plots have made enquiries,"
Jacob continued, without noticing the last speaker. "I think they've
begun to realise that they're pretty well at our mercy--or rather at
the mercy of the Company."

"Well, that's not our business, anyway," Montague replied evasively.
"I dare say it will be rather an expensive affair, connecting them all
up."

Jacob smiled knowingly.

"No need for us to bluff one another," he remarked, dropping his voice
a little. "We all three know what's in front of those unfortunate
tenants. Serves 'em right for trying to buy the land too cheap. By the
bye, Montague, there's no mistake about that option?"

Mr. Montague coughed.

"None at all," he answered.

"When do you want my share of the purchase money?"

Mr. Dane Montague and his friend exchanged surreptitious glances.

"Presently ... presently," the former replied. "The option doesn't
expire for two months yet. But there is another little matter
concerning which Littleham and I have a proposition to make to you."

"Go ahead," Jacob invited.

"Every plot of land on the Cropstone Wood Estate has now been sold,"
Montague continued. "The purchase price provided by you was twenty
thousand pounds. The land has been sold for thirty-five thousand, of
which sum twenty per cent has been received."

"Precisely," Jacob agreed. "We have fifteen thousand pounds, less
expenses and interest, to divide between the three of us as the money
comes in."

"In the ordinary course of events," Mr. Montague proceeded, "it will
no doubt be a year at least before the depositors will have paid up in
full and a correct balance can be arrived at. Now Littleham and I are
scarcely in your position. We need to turn our money over quickly. We
therefore make to you the following proposition. Let the accounts be
m