r a native; who might, for aught you know, be
already dead. Of course, it was a most gallant action; but the
betting was ten to one against your succeeding. However, as it
turned out, it was a fortunate business, altogether. I don't say
that you might not have made your way down to Rangoon, unaided; but
the odds would have been very heavily against it. However, these
rubies were a windfall, indeed."

"Will you take the rest of them, uncle, and sell them at
Calcutta--or shall I send them to Madras, or home to England?"

"I will take them with me to Calcutta, if you like, Stanley. I
don't say that there are better men there than the one you sent to,
at Madras; but I think some of them do a larger business up-country
with the native princes, who don't care what they give for good
gems. At any rate, I will take them there and get them valued by an
expert; and then try two or three of the leading firms, and get
their offers. If these are as high as the value put on them by the
expert, I would send them to England, through my agents, who would
do the best they could for you."

"For us, uncle. Of course, it is all in the partnership business.
You have just got some contracts that will pay well and, while you
have been doing that, I have been getting hold of these rubies."

"I don't think that that is fair, Stanley," his uncle said,
gravely.

"It seems to me perfectly fair; and besides, the money put into the
business will make a lot of difference, and will certainly pay me a
great deal better than it would in any other way. I sent home 100
pounds for my mother, directly the money came from Calcutta; and
told her that I hoped to be able to send home at least as much,
every year."

"A good deal more, lad, if you like. I calculate these contracts
that I have got will bring in a pound a head so that, by the time
that the war is over, I hope to have cleared 8000 pounds, which
will be about what you will make by your rubies; and when trade
begins again, we shall be in a position to do it on a big scale.
But I still think that it will not be fair to take that money."

"Well, uncle, if you won't take it, I certainly won't have anything
to do with the money that you make, while I am away; so please
don't let us say anything more about it. Shall I give you that
eighteen hundred now; or will you have an order upon the paymaster,
in Calcutta?"

"That would be the best way, if you will have it so, lad. I have
left money with Jo