"She is my secretary," repeated Bones. "An extremely sensible young woman, extremely sensible." "Don't be silly," said Hamilton. "Plenty of people are sensible. When you talk about sensible young women, you mean plain young women." "That's true," said Bones; "I never thought of that. What a naughty old mind you have, Ham." He seemed inclined to change the subject. "And now, dear old son," said Bones, with a brisk return to his what-can-I-do-for-you air, "to business! You've come, dear old thing, to consult me." "You're surprisingly right," said Hamilton. "Well," said Bones, trying three drawers of his desk before he could find one that opened, "have a cigar, and let us talk." Hamilton took the proffered weed and eyed it suspiciously. "Is this one that was given to you, or one that you bought?" he demanded. "That, my jolly old officer," said Bones, "is part of a job lot that I bought pretty cheap. I've got a rare nose for a bargain----" "Have you a rare nose for a cigar, that's the point?" asked Hamilton, as he cut off the end and lit it gingerly. "Would I give you a bad cigar?" asked the indignant Bones. "A gallant old returned warrior, comrade of my youth, and all that sort of thing! My dear old Ham!" "I'll tell you in a minute," said Hamilton, and took two draws. Bones, who was no cigar smoker, watched the proceedings anxiously. Hamilton put the cigar down very gently on the corner of the desk. "Do you mind if I finish this when nobody's looking?" he asked. "Isn't it all right?" asked Bones. "Gracious heavens! I paid fifty shillings a hundred for those! Don't say I've been done." "I don't see how you could be done at that price," said Hamilton, and brushed the cigar gently into the fireplace. "Yes, I have come to consult you, Bones," he went on. "Do you remember some eight months ago I wrote to you telling you that I had been offered shares in a motor-car company?" Bones had a dim recollection that something of the sort had occurred, and nodded gravely. "It seemed a pretty good offer to me," said Hamilton reflectively. "You remember I told you there was a managership attached to the holding of the shares?" Bones shifted uneasily in his chair, sensing a reproach. "My dear old fellow----" he began feebly. "Wait a bit," said Hamilton. "I wrote to you and asked you your advice. You wrote back, telling me to have nothing whatever to do with the Plover Light Car Company." "Did I?" said Bones. "Well, my impression was that I advised you to get into it as quickly as you possibly could. Have you my letter, dear old thing?" "I haven't," said Hamilton. "Ah," said Bones triumphantly, "there you are! You jolly old rascal, you are accusing me of putting you off----" "Will you wait, you talkative devil?" said Hamilton. "I pointed out to you that the prospects were very alluring. The Company was floated with a small capital----"