Mr. Chase pondered. "Let her know, casual like, that I sha'n't be 'ome till late on Saturday," he said, slowly. "Then you come 'ome in the afternoon and take her out. As soon as you're gone I'll pop in and have a thorough good hunt round. Is she fond of animals?" "I b'lieve so," said the other, staring. "Why?" "Take 'er to the Zoo," said Mr. Chase, impressively. "Take two-penn'orth o' nuts with you for the monkeys, and some stale buns for--for--for animals as likes 'em. Give 'er a ride on the elephant and a ride on the camel." "Anything else?" inquired Mr. Teak disagreeably. "Any more ways you can think of for me to spend my money?" "You do as I tell you," said his friend. "I've got an idea now where it is. If I'm able to show you where to put your finger on three 'undred pounds when you come 'ome it'll be the cheapest outing you have ever 'ad. Won't it?" Mr. Teak made no reply, but, after spending the evening in deliberation, issued the invitation at the supper-table. His wife's eyes sparkled at first; then the light slowly faded from them and her face fell. "I can't go," she said, at last. "I've got nothing to go in." "Rubbish!" said her husband, starting uneasily. "It's a fact," said Mrs. Teak. "I should like to go, too--it's years since I was at the Zoo. I might make my jacket do; it's my hat I'm thinking about." Mr. Chase, meeting Mr. Teak's eye, winked an obvious suggestion. "So, thanking you all the same," continued Mrs. Teak, with amiable cheerfulness, "I'll stay at 'ome." "'Ow-'ow much are they?" growled her husband, scowling at Mr. Chase. "All prices," replied his wife. "Yes, I know," said Mr. Teak, in a grating voice. "You go in to buy a hat at one and eleven-pence; you get talked over and flattered by a man like a barber's block, and you come out with a four-and-six penny one. The only real difference in hats is the price, but women can never see it." Mrs. Teak smiled faintly, and again expressed her willingness to stay at home. They could spend the afternoon working in the garden, she said. Her husband, with another indignant glance at the right eye of Mr. Chase, which was still enacting the part of a camera-shutter, said that she could have a hat, but asked her to remember when buying it that nothing suited her so well as a plain one. The remainder of the week passed away slowly; and Mr. Teak, despite his utmost efforts, was unable to glean any information from Mr. Chase as to that gentleman's ideas concerning the hiding-place. At every suggestion Mr. Chase's smile only got broader and more indulgent. "You leave it to me," he said. "You leave it to me, and when you come home from a happy outing I 'ope to be able to cross your little hand with three 'undred golden quids." "But why not tell me?" urged Mr. Teak.