re
is a small matter of business I should like you to undertake for me in
this neighbourhood."

The young lawyer's alacrity was not to be mistaken.

"I will be there without fail," he promised.

* * * * *

At eleven o'clock precisely, the next morning, Mr. Dane Montague
presented himself for the second time at Jacob's offices, accompanied
this time by a smaller, darker and glossier duplicate of himself, whom
he introduced as Mr. Sharpe, his solicitor. Jacob did not keep them
long in suspense.

"I have inspected the Cropstone Wood Estate," he announced, "and I am
willing to advance the twenty thousand pounds for its purchase."

Mr. Montague moistened his already too rubicund lips.

"I felt certain that you would not neglect such an opportunity," he
said.

"The profits on the sale of the land in lots," Jacob continued, "are,
I presume, to be divided equally amongst the three of us. As regards
the houses which Mr. Littleham proposes to build, I will advance
whatever money is necessary for these, on mortgage, at six per cent
interest, but the profit on the sale of these I should expect to
divide."

Mr. Montague showed some signs of haste.

"I don't object," he assented suavely. "Littleham and I will take the
other half. It is a great relief to me to get this matter settled
quickly," he continued, "as I have an exceedingly busy day. There just
remains one rather important point, Mr. Pratt. My offer of the
property expires to-morrow, and the vendors might or might not be
disposed to extend the time. In any case, it would be better not to
ask them. Would it be possible to clinch this matter to-day?"

"Bring your agreement here," Jacob directed, "at three o'clock, and I
will give you my cheque for the amount."

Mr. Sharpe reached for his hat.

"I can manage it," he said, in reply to a look from Montague, "but I
shall have to get along at once."

* * * * *

At a quarter past three that afternoon, Jacob wrote his cheque for
twenty thousand pounds, received a signed copy of the agreement with
Messrs. Littleham and Montague, and sat by himself, whistling softly
and listening to their retreating footsteps. Dauncey came in, a few
moments later, with a perplexed frown upon his forehead.

"Please may I look through the agreement?" he begged.

Jacob passed it over to him. He read it through slowly and carefully.

"Anything troubling you?" Jacob asked.