oul amongst his acquaintance, unless specially informed, would have
singled him out as a millionaire.

It was about six months after his first visit from Mr. Dane Montague,
when Dauncey one morning brought in a card to his chief. Jacob was no
longer under the necessity of resorting to imaginary labours on such
occasions. There were tiers of black boxes around the room, reaching
to the ceiling, on which were painted in white letters--_The Cropstone
Wood Estates Company, Limited_. There were two clerks in the outside
office, in addition to an office boy.

"Young lady to see you," Dauncey announced quietly.

Jacob glanced at the card and forgot all about the Cropstone Wood
Estates Company, Limited. His fingers shook, and he looked anxiously
at his secretary.

"Did she ask for me by name?"

"No. She asked for the Chairman of the Company."

"You don't think she knows who I am, then?"

"From her manner, I should imagine not," Dauncey replied. "As a matter
of fact, she asked first to whom she should apply for information
respecting the Company. I thought you might like to see her yourself,
so I told her the Chairman."

"Quite right," Jacob approved. "Show her in and be careful not to
mention my name."

Jacob's precaution was obviously a wise one. The young lady who was
presently ushered into the office paused abruptly as she recognised
him. Her expression was first incredulous, then angry. She turned as
though to leave.

"Miss Bultiwell," Jacob said calmly, as he rose to his feet, "I
understand that you desire information respecting the Cropstone Wood
Estates. I am Chairman of the Company and entirely at your service."

She hesitated for a moment, then shrugged her shoulders, swung across
the room, and threw herself into the client's chair with a touch of
that insolent grace which he had always so greatly admired.

"I had no idea whom I was coming to see," she told him.

"Or you would not have come?"

"I most certainly should not."

The light died from his eyes. He felt the chill of her cold,
contemptuous tone.

"Can you not remember," he suggested, "that you are here to see an
official connected with the Cropstone Wood Estates Company and forget
the other association?"

"I shall try," she agreed. "If I had not made up my mind to do that, I
should have walked straight out of your office directly I recognised
you."

"You will pardon my saying," he ventured, "that I consider your
attitude unnecessarily c