invited the trio to my
rooms for a smoke and a gossip.

We sat until nearly two o'clock in the morning. Griesbach had been many
years in London, and was apparently financing the scheme of the brothers
Engler, a scheme which, on the face of it, seemed a very sound
undertaking.

All three were thorough-going cosmopolitans, cheery, easy-going men of
the world, who told many quaint stories which caused my room to ring
with laughter.

Next day was Christmas Eve, and Griesbach suddenly suggested that if I
had nothing better to do he would be delighted if I would join their
party at dinner on Christmas night at his house over at Barnes.

"I regret very much," I said, "but I've already arranged to dine with my
friend Raymond, who shares chambers with me in Lincoln's Inn."

"Oh!" exclaimed Otto Engler, "I'm sure Herr Griesbach would be very
pleased if he came also."

"Of course!" cried the German merrily. "The more the merrier. We shall
dine at eight, and we'll expect you both. I'll send a note to Mr.
Raymond, if you'll give me his address."

I gave it to him, and nothing loath to spend the festival in such jovial
company, I accepted.

I entertained a shrewd suspicion that by their hospitality they wished
to enlist my aid, because I had one or two friends in the City who
might, perhaps, assist them materially in their scheme. And yet, after
all, Otto Engler had often been my guest in Bremen.

Next day I heard on the telephone from Ray that he would go down to
Barnes with me, and would call for me at six at Guilford Street.
Curiously enough, I had become so impressed by the possibilities of the
new alloy about to be exploited with British capital, that I had really
become anxious to "go in" with them. Ray Raymond, too, was much
interested when I showed him the specimen of the new metal which Engler
had given me.

"Do you know," said he when he called for me at six o'clock on Christmas
evening, "I was about town a lot yesterday and I'm quite certain that I
was followed by a foreigner--a rather big man wearing gold spectacles."

"Nonsense!" I laughed. "Why should you be followed by any foreigner?"

"It isn't nonsense, my dear Jacox," he declared. "The fellow kept close
observation on me all yesterday afternoon. When I got back to Bruton
Street, I looked out half an hour afterwards and there he was, still
idling outside."

"Some chap who wants to serve you with a writ, perhaps!" I laughed
grimly. "A neglected tailo