t a formal
receipt.

"I think you are very foolish," she said, "and if you take my advice
you will come once a week."

"And if you take mine," Grace declared, leaning over his shoulder and
laughing, "you'll come every day. We might go bankrupt, and then you'd
lose your money."

"I shall come as often as I am allowed," Jacob assured her.

"Oh, you can come when you like," Sybil remarked carelessly. "If I am
not here, Grace can give you a lesson. You will find it a most
informal place," she went on, listening to footsteps on the stairs.
"People drop in and have a dance whenever they feel like it. I am glad
you are not an absolute beginner. It is sometimes embarrassing for
them."

The door opened and Hartwell entered, followed by Mason. Sybil
introduced them. Both were exceedingly cordial.

"Heard of you out in New York, Mr. Pratt," the former remarked, as he
shook hands. "I only just missed meeting your brother. He got well
ahead of our prospectors, out West."

"My brother has been very fortunate," Jacob replied.

"I guess he is one of the brightest men who ever came over to the
States from this country," Hartwell declared. "Knows all about oil,
too."

"Not too much gossip," Sybil interposed. "Mr. Pratt, you are here to
learn dancing. So are you, Mr. Hartwell. Please try a hesitation with
me, and, Grace, you take Mr. Pratt."

"Sybil is very foolish," Grace whispered to Jacob, as they swayed up
and down the room. "Mr. Hartwell is perfectly hopeless, and you dance
beautifully."

"It is you," Jacob told her, "who are inspiring."

She looked into his eyes.

"I believe you are going to improve," she said hopefully.

CHAPTER XII

Dauncey accepted his chief's invitation, one morning about a week
later, when things were slack, to sit in his room and have a chat.

"How goes the dancing?" he enquired, stretching out his hand for a
cigarette.

"Interesting developments may shortly be expected," Jacob replied
reflectively. "Up to the present, only two of the party have declared
themselves. Mr. Mason has made propositions to me with regard to
finding the money for starting a night club, and Mr. Hartwell has
offered me a share in some oil springs in Trinidad."

"A certain lack of imagination about Hartwell's offer," Dauncey
commented.

"On the contrary, I thought it rather subtle," Jacob observed. "You
see, I am supposed to know all about oil, although I really know no
more about it than the man in t