terrific storm in
which twenty-six people will be killed by lightning in various parts
of England, we shall be among the fatal number. One is not much moved
to find oneself alive when a danger is passed, but one does get
terribly excited in contemplating the risk we are bound to run of
being killed. Within a week, the circulation of _To-morrow_ had gone
up from fifty thousand to ten million, and Hamar, inflated with
success, said to himself, "Now I will go and have another look at John
Martin."

When he arrived, Gladys was in the garden. His stealthy approach had
given her no chance to escape.

"What is your business?" she asked, glancing nervously in the
direction of the house, and dreading lest her father should see Hamar
from his window.

"I've come to see your father," Hamar said, his eyes resting
admiringly on her face and then running leisurely over her figure.
"How is the old gentleman?"

"He is not well enough to see visitors," Gladys said, with absolute
hauteur. "Perhaps you will state your business to me."

"Well! I don't mind if I do!" Hamar replied. "Let us sit down. It's
more comfortable than standing." And he dropped into a seat as he
spoke. "Now I've been noticing," he went on, "that your Show in the
Kingsway is not getting on very well--that there are fewer and fewer
people there every night, and I've no doubt it will soon have to dry
up altogether. We, on the other hand, are doing better and better
every night, and we shall go on doing better--there is no limit to our
possibilities. We are worth half a million now--next year, we shall be
worth ten times that amount!"

"You are optimistical, at all events," Gladys said.

"I can afford to be," Hamar grinned. "Now, do you know what we intend
doing before very long?"

"I haven't the least idea, and I am not in the slightest degree
curious."

"Aren't you? Well, you should be, since it concerns you. We mean to
buy up the whole of Kingsway!"

"And later on, of course, the whole of Regent Street!"

"You are satirical. You are not alarmed at the prospect of having me
for a landlord!"

"I don't understand you! The Hall in Kingsway is my father's own
property."

"If that is so then you have nothing to fear," Hamar laughed, "but I
think it just possible you are mistaken. At any rate, I've been in
communication with some one styling himself the landlord."

"My father would have an agreement, anyhow!" Gladys said.

"Of course," Hamar replied, "