"Now here," continued Miss Harbord, slapping the newspaper as an East-End butcher slaps the last beef-steak at his Saturday night auction, "I have the report of the half-yearly meeting of the International Trading Company, Limited, where a dividend of seven per cent was declared, making a dividend on the whole year of fourteen per cent. _Now_ do you see what I--what Joan wants?" "Hughie," said Joan, who was making a tour of inspection of the room, "where did you get this lovely leopard-skin? Have I seen it before?" "Shot it, Joey. I beg your pardon, Miss Harbord?" "Do you see what Joan wants you to do?" repeated that financial Amazon. "Afraid I don't, quite. I'll get on to it in a minute, though," replied the docile Hughie. "Surely, the whole thing is quite clear! You must take Joan's capital out of whatever it is in and buy shares in The International Trading Company with it. And be sure you order _preference_ shares, Mr. Marrable. They are the best sort to get. That is all; but I ought not to have to point these things out to you." Hughie surveyed his preceptress in an undecided fashion. Was it worth while endeavouring to explain to her a few of the first principles of finance, or would it be simpler to grin and bear it? He decided on the latter alternative. "The shares," continued Miss Harbord, having evidently decided to follow up her whips with a few selected scorpions, "should be bought as cheap as possible. They go up and down, you know, like--a--" "Monkey on a stick?" suggested Hughie, with the air of one anxious to help. Miss Harbord smiled indulgently. "No, no! Like a--a barometer, let us say; and you have to watch your opportunity. There is a thing called 'par' which they go to,--anybody will tell you what it is,--and that is a very good time to buy them." Hughie, fighting for breath, rose and joined Joan in the window recess, while Miss Harbord, with much ostentatious crackling, folded up the newspaper and put it away. "Hughie," said Joan, under cover of the noise, "you are angry." "Not at all," replied Hughie, wiping his eyes furtively. "A bit flummoxed--that's all. No idea your friend was so up in these things." "She _is_ clever, isn't she?" said Joan, with unaffected sincerity. "But, Hughie dear, don't bother about it if it worries you. My affairs must be a fearful nuisance to you, but Ursula was so keen that I should come--" "I'm glad you did, Joey. It was worth it," said Hughie simply. "Of course," continued the unlearned Miss Gaymer, "to people like Ursula these things are as easy as falling off a log, but for you and me, who know nothing about business, they're pretty stiff to tackle, aren't they?" "Quite so," agreed Hughie meekly. "But look here, Joey," he continued, "are you really in want of money?" "Of course she is!" said Miss Harbord, overhearing and resuming the offensive.