nk it over. I'll call to-morrow afternoon."

Bones still shook his head.

"No go, nothin' doin'. Finish this palaver, dear old Honesty!"

"Anyway, no harm is done," urged Mr. Staines. "I ask you, is there any
harm done? You have the option for twenty-four hours. I'll roll the
plans up so that they won't be in the way. Good morning!"

He was out of the office door before Bones could as much as deliver the
preamble to the stern refusal he was preparing.

At three o'clock that afternoon came two visitors. They sent in a card
bearing the name of a very important Woking firm of land agents, and
they themselves were not without dignity of bearing.

There was a stout gentleman and a thin gentleman, and they tiptoed into
the presence of Bones with a hint of reverence which was not
displeasing.

"We have come on a rather important matter," said the thin gentleman.
"We understand you have this day purchased Stivvins' Wharf----"

"Staines had no right to sell it?" burst in the stout man explosively.
"A dirty mean trick, after all that he promised us! It is just his way
of getting revenge, selling the property to a stranger!"

"Mr. Sole"--the thin gentleman's voice and attitude were eloquent of
reproof--"_please_ restrain yourself! My partner is annoyed," he
explained "and not without reason. We offered fifty thousand pounds
for Stivvins', and Staines, in sheer malice, has sold the
property--which is virtually necessary to our client--literally behind
our backs. Now, Mr. Tibbetts, are you prepared to make a little profit
and transfer the property to us?"

"But----" began Bones.

"We will give you sixty thousand," said the explosive man. "Take it or
leave it--sixty thousand."

"But, my dear old Boniface," protested Bones, "I haven't bought the
property--really and truly I haven't. Jolly old Staines wanted me to
buy it, but I assure you I didn't."

The stout man looked at him with glazed eyes, pulled himself together,
and suggested huskily:

"Perhaps you will buy it--at his price--and transfer it to us?"

"But why? Nothing to do with me, my old estate agent and auctioneer.
Buy it yourself. Good afternoon. _Good_ afternoon!"

He ushered them out in a cloud of genial commonplaces.

In the street they looked at one another, and then beckoned Mr.
Staines, who was waiting on the other side of the road.

"This fellow is either as wide as Broad Street or he's a babe in arms,"
said the explosive man husk