ant the placid blue eyes of Mr. Torrington were lit with a
shiny white fire.

"Van Diest will not be in this, Cassis," he said.

"But look here, dear old Mr. Torrington," Lord Almont exclaimed.
"Surely you agree that Barra ought to give us his trust."

The old man smiled whimsically.

"Think so?" he said.

"I mean to say, we're not the kind of people to take advantage of a
man."

"Nonsense! Of course we are," came the answer.

"That's honest," Barraclough laughed.

"Not at all, my dear boy, it's a confession of dishonour of which I am
heartily ashamed."

Cassis could not leave the subject alone. Tenacity was one of his
strong points.

"Suppose you were killed," he suggested. "The secret would be lost for
all time. And where should we stand?"

"Several degrees better than myself," was the answer. "You'll come out
with your lives."

"That's not the point. Our involvement is equivalent to yours. Your
risk is physical, ours financial, and of the two, in my own opinion----"

"I know," Barraclough cut in. "Our views are opposed about that. I
made the find and as soon as I have turned it into actual possession,
you will have the chance to exploit it, but until----"

"Yes, but half a shake, old son," said Lord Almont. "How about the
marvellous healing properties--all the jolly old hospitals we were
going to endow. One doesn't want to be a dog in the manger."

Barraclough grinned. Whatever other qualities Nature had bestowed upon
the ebullient peer philanthropy was not outstanding.

"I notice in this argument," he said, "money came over the horizon
before the hospitals showed their smoke."

"Then deposit the map reference in a safe place so we can get hold of
it if you break up."

"And where it will be at the mercy of the first man with a jimmy and a
blow lamp. No, thanks."

There are certain types of stubbornness that increase in direct ratio
to the pressure applied. To this type Barraclough belonged. He had
yet to find the man who could induce him to talk against his will.
Woman? Ah, that's a different matter. The argument took an angry turn.

"It occurs to me," said Mr. Torrington sweetly, "it was a pity I
deserted my greenhouses this morning. We remain _in statu quo ante_."

A reproach from Mr. Torrington seldom failed to reach its mark.

"I'm sorry," Barraclough apologised, "but I give you my solemn word
that somehow I'll win you the purse."

"The purse," Mr. Torrington smiled