“Well, you need not say, but I may think,” snapped up Mr. Black; “and, with regard to the question you put to me some time since, all I have got to remark is this—I will work with you, and for you and myself, if you will let me; but there is a limit to all things. I cannot stand being bullied and interfered with. Let me work the company my own way, and I will take what amount of advice you choose to give, and act on it if I can. I am a good servant, if I am let alone—interfere with this, that, and the other, and I am apt to turn restive. If you take the right way with me, you will not find me unreasonable; but I tell you fairly to begin with, that though a child might lead, the devil himself should not drive me.” “I must advertise for an intelligent three-year-old, then,” laughed Mr. Stewart, “for I shall certainly not attempt driving you. Only, I mean to have my way in some things, remember. I am a little like you, Mr. Black—averse to being crossed; so it will be better for us to agree to go the same road, rather than always be pulling contrary ways. You will bear in mind what I said about our company being made a refuge, and not repeat such a mistake. I shall look in again after Christmas; meantime, allow me to wish you the compliments of the season.” “Thank you; same to you, sir,” answered Mr. Black, forced to accept the civility, but by no means mollified by it. “I hope the new year may prove a prosperous one to us all,” said Mr. Stewart, meditatively, looking into his hat. “I hope so too,” the promoter agreed; “it shall not be for want of any exertions on my part if the company fail.” “Fail,” repeated Mr. Stewart; “fail! it shall not fail! Conducted with ordinary prudence, it should be a perfect mine of wealth. There is scarcely a public bakery in England which has not paid the most enormous dividends; and what is the field in any county or provincial town in comparison to that which is open for us in London? Three millions of bread-eaters, and not a large bakery to supply them!” “You may remember that I make a somewhat similar observation in the prospectus,” remarked Mr. Black, not sorry to have an opportunity of indirectly accusing Mr. Stewart of plagiarism. “Did you? How very singular! Is it copyright? If so, I will not infringe again. And that reminds me what induces you to stick the Mount Cashell motto at the heads of each advertisement.” “I suppose the motto was in existence before the Mount Cashells were thought of,” retorted Mr. Black. “It is none the worse for their having used it, is it?” “It is none the better,” was the reply; “still,” went on Mr. Stewart, “the prospectus, as a whole, does you credit. It is very moderate in its tone—a great matter in these days of bounce and swagger; and that allusion to the ‘Give us bread and the games’ is rather neat. I like the stamp motto also, ‘Sweet and wholesome.’ Altogether, that Latin of yours is a good idea.”