undred
yards and I much prefer going alone."

Lady Mary got up from the piano and detained Jacob as he turned to
follow the other two men.

"Mr. Pratt," she asked, "how did you contrive to offend Miss
Bultiwell?"

"I refused to put some money into her father's business," he
explained. "Her father was hopelessly bankrupt and tried to palm off a
false balance sheet on me. He afterwards shot himself. It was
unfortunate, but I cannot see that I was to blame."

Lady Mary sighed.

"Of course," she said, "I feel I am being rather generous in trying to
help you, because I am beginning to rather like you myself."

"There doesn't seem to be anything against your encouraging the
feeling," Jacob replied, with a rather sad twinkle in his eyes. "I
don't think Sybil will ever have me."

She made a little grimace.

"I don't like being a second choice," she confessed. "Couldn't you get
to like me best?"

"What about the other fellow?"

"He's coming in with Jack in a few minutes," she said. "I must ask him
about it. I think I shall tell him that my affections are wavering."

"As soon as the coast is clear," Jacob began,--

"Humbug!" she interrupted. "Go down and be fleeced."

* * * * *

The scene was laid when Jacob reached the library. He slipped into the
vacant chair and accepted the pen which the Marquis handed to him.

"Leave the cheque open, please," Mr. Dane Montague begged. "We have to
hand the money over in cash to-morrow morning."

"Certainly," Jacob assented. "By the bye, will you let me have one
more glance at the undertaking to sell?"

"You can read it through as many times as you like," the other
replied, producing it. "It's as tight a contract as can be drawn. The
lawyer's letter proves that."

Jacob nodded, and, spreading the document out, tapped it with the end
of his penholder.

"There is just one thing omitted which I think should be in," he said.

"What's that?" Mr. Montague demanded.

"Well, I think you ought to add 'Leicester Square' after the Empress
Music Hall," Jacob pointed out. "Curiously enough, there happens to
be another Empress Music Hall in Shoreditch, the proprietor of which
spells his name P-e-t-e-r. I looked it up in the telephone directory
just now."

There was a cold and ominous silence. Mr. Montague breathed heavily.
The Marquis sighed.

"Most unfortunate!" he murmured.

"Most what?" Jacob asked, turning towards him.

"Most unfortunate,