 invited him to glance
over our prospectus; yesterday he was more than willing to join our association
- and share our profits.«
    »Did he tell you how much he'd got out of those poor devils over there?«
    »A matter of sixty pounds, I gathered. I am not a little astonished at his
success.«
    »Oh, he'd talk the devil himself into subscribing to a mission if it suited
him to try.«
    »He is clearly very anxious to get the highest interest possible for his
money. His ideas on business seemed, I confess, rather vague. I did my best to
help him with suggestions.«
    »Of course.«
    »He talked of taking some five hundred pounds' worth of shares on his own
account.«
    The men regarded each other. Rodman's lips curled; Mr. Hilary was as grave
as ever.
    »You didn't balk him?«
    »I commended his discretion.«
    Rodman could not check a laugh.
    »I am serious,« said Mr. Hilary. »It may take a little time, but -«
    »Just so. Did he question you at all about what we were doing?«
    »A good deal. He said he should go and look over the Stores in the Strand.«
    »By all means. He's a clever man if he distinguishes between Irish butter
and English butterine - I'm sure I couldn't. And things really are looking up at
the Stores?«
    »Oh, distinctly.«
    »By-the-by, I had rather a nasty letter from Lord Mountorry yesterday. He's
beginning to ask questions: wants to know when we're going to conclude our
contract with that tenant of his - I've forgotten the fellow's name.«
    »Well, that must be looked into. There's perhaps no reason why the contract
should not be concluded. Little by little we may come to justify our name; who
knows? In the meantime, we at all events do a bonâ fide business.«
    »Strictly so.«
    Rodman had a good deal of business on hand besides that which arose from his
connection with Irish dairies. If Alice imagined him strolling at his ease about
the fashionable lounges of the town, she was much mistaken. He worked hard and
enjoyed his work, on the sole condition that he was engaged in overreaching
someone. This flattered his humour.
    He could not find leisure to dine till nearly nine o'clock. He had made up
his mind
