The very first morning she opened fire upon him, the promoter informed Arthur, he “knew what the old lady was up to.” This was the peculiarly diplomatic manner in which Miss Hope, finding that Heather inclined to do nothing, commenced her operations. The time was breakfast; scene, the dining-room at Berrie Down, with all the windows open; actors, Miss Hope and Mr. Black: interested spectators, the family and visitors generally. “Pray,” began the spinster, coquetting, as she spoke, with a peach which might have been grown in Eden, it looked so fresh and tempting; “pray, Mr. Black, can you tell me of a good investment for a small sum of money?” Across the table Mr. Black looked at her, with a merry twinkle in his eyes; then he answered,— “Yes, the Three per Cents.” “But my friend would not be satisfied with three per cent.,” said Miss Hope. “A mortgage, or some good freehold estate, might suit her then,” suggested Mr. Black. “I did not say it was a lady, so far as I am aware,” remarked Miss Hope. “No; but I concluded no man would ask a lady friend to make such inquiries for him,” explained her antagonist. “She might get four, or even four and a half, and still be safe enough.” “But what is four and a half?” observed Miss Hope. “Four pounds ten shillings per cent. per annum,” answered Mr. Black, at which reply Arthur laughed. “You won’t make much of him, aunt,” he said; “you cannot get him to advise an unsafe investment.” For a moment Miss Hope turned towards her nephew, evidently meditating an attack on him. Changing her mind, however, she addressed herself to Mr. Black once more. “But there is more surely than four and a half per cent. to be had now-a-days, is there not; in some of those great companies, for instance?” “All swindles, ma’am,” declared the promoter. “Should not advise you, or at least your friend, to have anything to do with them. In the companies that are _bona fide_, all the shares are snapped up before the project is well before the public. Whenever you hear of shares going a-begging, depend upon it the whole concern is rotten.” “You are an authority in such matters?” she suggested. “Not a better authority than Miss Hope,” replied Mr. Black, gallantly. “What do you mean; do you think I know anything about investments?” she asked. “I have heard that either you or some friend of yours does,” he answered. “I have heard of very good ventures you have made,—of shares sold in the nick of time, and bought wisely, and at a very low figure.” “I assure you, Mr. Black, you have been misinformed,” said the spinster, eagerly; “all my money is sunk in a life annuity.” “Which, no doubt, ma’am, you purchased on as favourable terms as those shares in the Great Britain and Ireland Canal Company.”