After an uneasy shuffling in his seat--he could not guess what this keen-faced, earnest-eyed lawyer might want--the representative of Messrs. Dodge, Son & Co. (Limited) explained that he was Dodge, and the name of the firm had been adopted for general purposes. "Then there is no 'son,' I take it." "Yes, there is, sir,"--this with a snort of anger. "How old is he?" "What the Dickens has that got to do with it? Will you kindly tell me what you want, sir, as my time is fully occupied?" "Just now I want to know how old the 'son' is?" This calm persistence irritated Mr. Dodge beyond endurance. "Three years, confound you, and his sister is four months. Can I oblige you with any more details concerning my family affairs?" Having purposely raised this man to boiling point by this harmless method of examination, Claude tackled the real business in hand. He was quite sure that a financial sharper in a temper was far more likely to blurt out the truth than if he were approached in a matter-of-fact manner. "To begin with," he explained, never taking his eyes off the furious face of Mr. Dodge, "I have called to ask for information with regard to your dealings with Mr. Sydney H. Corbett, of Raleigh Mansions, Sloane Square." "I never heard of him in my life. You have evidently come to the wrong office, Mr. Bruce." "Are you quite sure?" "Well, nearly so. However, I can tell you in a moment, as it is impossible for me to carry every name connected with several companies in my memory." Mr. Dodge recovered his temper now that he saw a chance of disconcerting his caustic visitor. He touched an electric bell, and told the answering youth to send Mr. Hawkins. "My correspondence clerk," he explained loftily when Hawkins entered. "Are we in communication with any one named Sydney H. Corbett, Mr. Hawkins?" "No, sir." "Have you ever heard the name?" "No, sir." "That will do. You may go. You see you have come to the wrong shop, Mr. Bruce." "Yes, so I see." The barrister kept looking at the back of Mr. Dodge's head, but made no move. Mr. Dodge became puzzled. "Now, Mr. Bruce," he cried, "you know the age of my son, and the extent of my information about Mr. Corbett. Is there anything else in which I may be of service?" "Yes. You do a great deal of underwriting, mostly for the flotation of gold-mining companies?" "Y--yes. That is a branch of our business." "I am interested in this class of undertaking, and I was given to understand that Mr. Corbett has had some dealings with you in a similar respect for a considerable sum of money." "The name is absolutely unknown to me." "Of course. So I gather. I am sorry to hear it. Several clients of mine have money to invest in that way, and I naturally came to a firm whose name apparently figured largely in the transactions of Mr. Corbett."