had spoken in tones of sincere liking, and the other answered him in
kind. "I have more than I ever dreamed of making in a lifetime when I
came to London," he declared. "If my father were alive, and heard me
tell him that in one year, out of a single transaction, I had cleared
over sixty-five thousand pounds, he'd be fit to doubt the existence of a
Supreme Being. I'm obliged to you for your good words, Thorpe. It's not
only been profitable to work with you, but it has been a great education
and a great pleasure as well."

Thorpe nodded his appreciation. "I'm going to ask a favour of you," he
said. "I want to leave the general run of my investments and interests
here in your hands, to keep track of I don't want to speculate at all,
in the ordinary meaning of the word. Even after I bury a pot of money in
non-productive real estate, I shall have an income of 50,000 pounds at
the very least, and perhaps twice as much. There's no fun in gambling
when you've got such a bank as that behind you. But if there are good,
wise changes to be made in investments, or if things turn up in the way
of chances that I ought to know about, I want to feel that you're on the
spot watching things and doing things in my interest. And as it won't
be regular broker's work, I shall want to pay you a stated sum--whatever
you think is right."

"That will arrange itself easily enough," said Semple. "I shall have
the greatest pleasure in caring for whatever you put in my hands. And I
think I can promise that it will be none the worse for the keeping."

"I don't need any assurance on that score," Thorpe declared, cordially.
"You're the one sterling, honest man I've known in the City."

It was the Broker's turn to make a little acknowledging bow. His eyes
gleamed frank satisfaction at being so well understood. "I think I
see the way that more money can be made out of the Company," he said,
abruptly changing the subject. "I've had but a few words with Rostocker
about it--but it's clear to me that he has a plan. He will be coming to
you with a proposition."

"Well, he won't find me, then," interposed Thorpe, with a comfortable
smile. "I leave all that to you."

"I suspect that his plan," continued Semple, "is to make a sub-rosa
offer of a few shillings for the majority of the shares, and
reconstitute the Board, and then form another Company to buy the
property and good-will of the old one at a handsome price. Now if that
would be a good thing for hi