"Well, a fellow who put five hundred into _Help Me Out Quickly_ drew seventeen thousand in eighteen months and is living on it still. Arthur, I've found a farce compared to which _Help Me Out Quickly_ is like the Dead March in Saul played by the vicar's wife on a harmonium." "And you want money to produce it?" "That's the idea. Two thousand or, if possible, two thousand five hundred. We could get the Burlington in the autumn--first-rate theatre. Lots of fun, and mints of money! The thing only wants seeing, doesn't it?" "What's the use of talking to me, Joe? I haven't got----" "We're all of us going in--quite a family affair! Raymond's in it, and old Pa Sarradet has put a bit in for Marie. And Mildred's governor has come in; and Amabel has begged a pony of her governor, and put it in--just for a lark, you know. I'm in--shirt, and boots, and all. We're all in--well, except Sidney. That chap's got no spunk." The inference about Arthur, if he did not "come in," was sadly obvious to himself, though Joe had not in the least meant to convey it. But that did not much affect him. The idea itself filled him with a sudden, a delicious, tingle of excitement. Lots of fun and mints of money! Could there be a programme more attractive? Vacancy and Stagnation could not live in the presence of that. "Just for curiosity--how much more do you want, to make it up?" asked Arthur. "A thousand." Joe laughed. "Oh, I'm not asking you to put down all that. Just what you like. Only the more that goes in, the more comes out." He laughed again joyfully; his prophetic eyes were already beholding the stream of gold; he seemed to dip that beak of his in it and to drink deep. Arthur knew what his income was only too well--also what was his present balance at the bank. But, of course, his balance at the bank (twenty-six pounds odd) had nothing to do with the matter. His mind ran back to _Help Me Out Quickly_. How Mother, and Anna, and he had laughed over it at Worcester! One or two of the "gags" in it were household words among them at Malvern to this day. Now Joe's farce was much, much funnier than _Help Me Out Quickly_. "I know just the girl for it too," said Joe. "Quite young, awfully pretty, and a discovery of my own." "Who is she?" Joe looked apologetic. "Awfully sorry, old fellow, but the fact is we're keeping that to ourselves for the present. Of course, if you came in, it'd be different." The Law Reports still lay on the floor; Joe Halliday sat on the table--Sacred Love and Profane, Stern Duty and Alluring Venture. "I'm putting up five hundred. Be a sport, and cover it!" said Joe. Something in Arthur Lisle leapt to a tremendous decision--a wild throw with Fortune. "You can put me down for the thousand you want, Joe," he said in quite a calm voice.