e you scared at? Don't
you know I'm glad to see you! Didn't I come to Attra to get you back to
England? Shake hands, partner. I've got lots of money for you and good
news."

Monty's hand was limp and cold, his eyes were glazed and expressionless.
Trent looked at the half-empty bottle by his side and turned savagely to
Da Souza.

"You blackguard!" he said in a low tone, "you wanted to kill him, did
you? Don't you know that to shut him up here and ply him with brandy is
as much murder as though you stood with a knife at his throat?"

"He goes mad without something to drink," Da Souza muttered.

"He'll go mad fast enough with a bottle of brandy within reach, and you
know it," Trent answered fiercely. "I am going to take him away from
here."

Da Souza was no longer cringing. He shrugged his shoulders and thrust
his fat little hands into his trousers pockets.

"Very well," he said darkly, "you go your own way. You won't take my
advice. I've been a City man all my life, and I know a thing or two. You
bring Monty to the general meeting of the Bekwando Company and explain
his position, and I tell you, you'll have the whole market toppling
about your ears. No concern of mine, of course. I have got rid of a few
of my shares, and I'll work a few more off before the crash. But what
about you? What about Scarlett Trent, the millionaire?"

"I can afford to lose a bit," Trent answered quietly, "I'm not afraid."

Da Souza laughed a little hysterically.

"You think you're a financial genius, I suppose," he said, "because
you've brought a few things off. Why, you don't know the A B C of the
thing. I tell you this, my friend. A Company like the Bekwando Company
is very much like a woman's reputation, drop a hint or two, start just a
bit of talk, and I tell you the flames'll soon do the work."

Trent turned his back upon him.

"Monty," he said, "you aren't afraid to come with me?"

Monty looked at him, perplexed and troubled.

"You've nothing to be afraid of," Trent continued. "As to the money at
Mr. Walsh's house, I settled that all up with him before I left Attra.
It belonged to you really, for I'd left more than that for you."

"There is no one, then," Monty asked in a slow, painful whisper, "who
will put me in prison?"

"I give you my word, Monty," Trent declared, "that there is not a single
soul who has any idea of the sort."

"You see, it isn't that I mind," Monty continued in a low, quivering
voice, "but there's