a Scandal Page of which Mr. Petheram himself might have
been proud, without a suggestion of slipping it into Percy. He felt that
he could go to Mr. Pook, and say, "Percy, on your honor as a British
book-maker, have I slipped it into you in any way whatsoever?" And Mr.
Pook would be compelled to reply, "You have not."

Miss March read the proofs of the page, and sniffed. But Miss March's
blood was up, and she would have sniffed at anything not directly
hostile to Mr. Pook.

* * * * *

A week later Roland sat in the office of 'Squibs,' reading a letter. It
had been sent from No. 18-A Bream's Buildings, E.C., but, from Roland's
point of view, it might have come direct from heaven; for its contents,
signed by Harrison, Harrison, Harrison & Harrison, Solicitors, were to
the effect that a client of theirs had instructed them to approach him
with a view to purchasing the paper. He would not find their client
disposed to haggle over terms, so, hoped Messrs. Harrison, Harrison,
Harrison & Harrison, in the event of Roland being willing to sell, they
could speedily bring matters to a satisfactory conclusion.

Any conclusion which had left him free of 'Squibs' without actual
pecuniary loss would have been satisfactory to Roland. He had conceived
a loathing for his property which not even its steadily increasing sales
could mitigate. He was around at Messrs. Harrison's office as soon as a
swift taxi could take him there. The lawyers were for spinning the thing
out with guarded remarks and cautious preambles, but Roland's methods of
doing business were always rapid.

"This chap," he said, "this fellow who wants to buy 'Squibs,' what'll he
give?"

"That," began one of the Harrisons ponderously, "would, of course,
largely depend----"

"I'll take five thousand. Lock, stock, and barrel, including the present
staff, an even five thousand. How's that?"

"Five thousand is a large----"

"Take it or leave it."

"My dear sir, you hold a pistol to our heads. However, I think that our
client might consent to the sum you mention."

"Good. Well, directly I get his check, the thing's his. By the way, who
is your client?"

Mr. Harrison coughed.

"His name," he said, "will be familiar to you. He is the eminent
financier, Mr. Geoffrey Windlebird."

THE DIVERTING EPISODE OF THE EXILED MONARCH

Fifth of a Series of Six Stories [First published in _Pictorial Review_,
September 1916]

The cao