rooks answered. "A week or two's holiday is
all I require--and that I am having. As for the rest," he answered,
looking Lord Arranmore in the face, "I am not discouraged. I am not
even depressed."

"I congratulate you--upon your zeal."

"You are very good."

"I was going to speak to you," Lord Arranmore continued, "concerning the
paragraph in this week's Verity, and these other attacks which you seem
to have provoked."

Brooks smiled.

"You too!" he exclaimed.

"I also!" Lord Arranmore admitted, coolly. "You scarcely see how it
concerns me, of course, but in a remote sense it does."

"I am afraid that I am a little dense," Brooks remarked.

"I will not embarrass you with any explanation," Lord Arranmore
remarked. "But all the same I am going to surprise you. Do you know
that I am very much interested in your experiment?"

Brooks raised his eyebrows.

"Indeed!"

"Yes, I am very much interested," Lord Arranmore repeated. "I should
like you to understand that my views as to charity and charitable
matters remain absolutely unaltered. But at the same time I am anxious
that you should test your schemes properly and unhampered by any
pressure from outside. You are all the sooner likely to grow out of
conceit with them. Therefore let me offer you a word of advice.
Publish your accounts, and sue Lavvy for a thousand pounds."

Brooks was silent for a moment.

"My own idea," he said, slowly, "was to take no notice of these attacks.
The offices where the financial part of our concern is managed are open
to our subscribers at any time, and the books are there for their
inspection. It is only at the branches where we do not admit visitors."

"You must remember," Lord Arranmore said, "that these attacks have been
growing steadily during the last few months. It is, of course, no
concern of mine, but if they are left unanswered surely your funds must
suffer."

"There have been no signs of it up to the present," Brooks answered.
"We have large sums of money come in every day."

"This worst attack," Lord Arranmore remarked, "only appeared in this
week's Verity. It is bound to have some effect."

Brooks shrugged his shoulders.

"I do not fear it," he answered, calmly. "As a matter of fact, however,
I am going to form a council to take the management of the financial
organization. It is getting too large a thing for me with all my other
work. Is there anything else you wished to say to me?"

The eyes of the two men