“I think the scheme a good one, if it be not swamped; if the capital be not all jobbed away on such purchases, for instance, as this house of yours.” “Do you imply that I——,” began the Squire; but Mr. Stewart cut across his sentence with— “I imply nothing; all I would suggest is, that as at Mr. Black’s instance you bought a very bad bargain, you should not seek to foist that bargain at a profit on your own Company, but wait patiently for dividends, and be thankful for any profit on your shares the Lord may in due time send you.” “Do you know, sir,” asked Arthur, “that my money has advertised this Company?” “Black said something of the kind,” answered Mr. Stewart; “and what he said, I am very sorry to hear confirmed by you.” “I have sold my crops, I have sold my stock, I have accepted bills, all on the faith of making my fortune out of this bread affair. Mr. Black declared I could get my money back three times over by buying from time to time such properties as he might advise—shops, mills, and so forth. He assured me he could and would guarantee the Company purchasing them from me on the most favourable terms. He mentioned to me the names of several individuals who have all made large fortunes in the same way.” “Yes, I know many men, as you say, who have obtained their money by jobbing,” was the calm answer; “but they should not have got fat so soon had I been on the direction.” “It is rather hard upon me, though, to be made your scapegoat,” said Arthur. “Perhaps so,” agreed Mr. Stewart; “but you know the innocent often suffer for the guilty. In fact, the scapegoat of which you have just spoken had not, so far as I am aware, committed any sin that should have doomed him to go unto a land not inhabited. He was selected impartially by lot, and then had to bear the iniquities of the children of Israel. You, Mr. Dudley, are chosen by accident to bear by proxy Mr. Black’s sins of over-appropriation. He has already had quite as many pickings for himself as any company can bear, and we cannot now tolerate his beginning to pick for his friends.” “And your object in coming to tell me all this, Mr. Stewart?” demanded Arthur. “Come, he is not quite an idiot,” reflected that gentleman, while he answered aloud—“My object is _bona fide_; I want to benefit you and myself also. I wish to explain exactly what I will and what I will not do. To begin with the last. I will not agree to the purchase of those premises in Lincoln’s Inn, but I shall not oppose the Company renting them from year to year; and, if you like to resign your directorship, I will see that you are appointed secretary at a commencing salary of one thousand pounds per annum.” “What has the secretary to do?” asked Arthur. “Very little, except remain honest,” was the reply. “And why do you wish me to be secretary?” he further demanded.