with a comfortable smile. "I knew you were awfully
busy--and I kept away as long as I could. But now--well, the truth
is--I'm in rather of a hole. I hope you don't mind my coming."

"Why not at all," said Thorpe, laconically. After a momentary pause he
added: "The Marquis has just been consulting me about the postponement
of the annual meeting. I suppose you agree with us--that it would be
better to put it off. There's really nothing to report. Of course,
you know more about the situation than he does--between ourselves.
The shareholders don't want a meeting; it's enough for them that their
shares are worth fifteen or twenty times what they paid for them. And
certainly WE don't need a meeting, as things stand now."

"Ah yes--how do things stand now?" asked Lord Plowden, briskly.

"Well,"--Thorpe eyed his visitor with a moody blankness of gaze, his
chin once more buried in his collar--"well, everything is going all
right, as far as I can see. But, of course, these dealings in our shares
in the City have taken up all my time--so that I haven't been able to
give any attention to starting up work in Mexico. That being the case, I
shall arrange to foot all the bills for this year's expenses--the rent,
the Directors' fees and clerk-hire and so on--out of my own pocket. It
comes, all told, to about 2,700 pounds--without counting my extra 1,000
pounds as Managing Director. I don't propose to ask for a penny of that,
under the circumstances--and I'll even pay the other expenses. So that
the Company isn't losing a penny by our not getting to work at the
development of the property. No one could ask anything fairer than
that.--And are your mother and sister quite well?"

"Oh, very well indeed, thanks," replied the other. He relapsed abruptly
into a silence which was plainly preoccupied. Something of the radiant
cheerfulness with which his face had beamed seemed to have faded away.

"I'm in treaty for a house and a moor in the Highlands"--Thorpe went on,
in a casual tone--"in fact, I'm hesitating between three or four places
that all seem to be pretty good--but I don't know whether I can get away
much before the twentieth. I hope you can contrive to come while I'm
there. I should like it very much if you would bring your mother and
sister--and your brother too. I have a nephew about his age--a fine
young fellow--who'd be company for him. Why can't you say now that
you'll all come?"

Lord Plowden emerged from his brown study w