e of the trio who has it in fluid form,"
he pointed out. "It would suit us better to recognise you a little
more generously in the partition of the profits as the land is sold,
and for you to finance the whole thing."

"I have no objection to that," Jacob decided, "provided I am satisfied
in other respects. How far is this delectable spot by road?"

"Twenty-two miles," Mr. Littleham replied. "Barely that if you know
the way."

"I will inspect the property this afternoon," Jacob announced.

"Capital!" Mr. Dane Montague exclaimed. "You are a man after my own
heart, Mr. Pratt. You strike while the iron's hot. Now what about a
little lunch, say at the Milan, before starting?"

"On condition that I am allowed to be host," Jacob stipulated, "I
shall be delighted."

Mr. Dane Montague chuckled. The suggestion relieved him of a certain
disquietude regarding the contents of his pocketbook.

"No objection to that, I am sure, Mr. Pratt," he declared. "Eh,
Littleham? At one o'clock at the Milan Grill, then."

"You can rely upon me," Jacob promised.

He entertained his two new friends to a very excellent lunch, but he
insisted upon bidding them au revoir on the threshold of the
restaurant. Jacob had views of his own about inspecting the Cropstone
Wood Estate.

"I wish to form a wholly unbiased opinion as regards the value of the
property," he declared, "and I should much prefer to walk over it
alone. Besides, if we are all of us seen there together--"

"I quite understand," Mr. Dane Montague interrupted. "Not another
word, Mr. Pratt. Littleham, direct Mr. Pratt's driver," he added. "I
have never been down by road myself."

Littleham entered into explanations with the chauffeur, and Mr.
Montague conversed in low but earnest tones with Jacob upon the
pavement.

"Don't think, Mr. Pratt," he said, "that we are asking you to take
part in a speculation, because we are not. That land at forty pounds
an acre is a gift. You could buy it and forget all about it for ten
years, and I wouldn't mind guaranteeing that you doubled your capital.
It's just one of those amazing chances which come now and then in a
man's lifetime. The only thing that rather put us in a corner was the
fact that the money has to be found within forty-eight hours. That
won't worry you, Mr. Pratt."

"It will make no difference to me," Jacob admitted.

"Then good luck to you and a pleasant journey," was Mr. Montague's
valediction.

Jacob called for Daun