“Indeed I do; I have no intention of losing sixpence, if I can help it. I have never lost money by a company yet, and I do not purpose beginning now.” “But it is so confoundedly mean to desert a failing cause.” “I never made any pretension to Quixotism. The moment Frank said he had written to the _Times_, I made up my mind to sell; and, if you were wise, you would sell also.” “No; I shall not adopt that course,” said Mr. Stewart; but he did not tell his nephew what course he intended to adopt. “It will be a bad business for Dudley, if anything should go wrong with the Protector,” remarked Mr. Croft, after an uncomfortable pause. “He has mortgaged Berrie Down.” “Surely not!” exclaimed Mr. Stewart. “Surely yes,” was the reply. “Old Craddock has advanced five thousand pounds upon it at four and a half—good interest too, I call that, on security good as the Bank of England.” “I wish I had heard of it.” “So do I,” was the reply; “but my lawyer knew nothing about the matter till it was all settled.” “What did he want the money for; do you know?” “Bills, I understand; and that the sum I have mentioned will not meet the one-half of those he has out. ’Pon my honour, I am very sorry for Dudley. He will be a beggar before he is ten years older.” “He is an awful fool,” observed Mr. Stewart. “So he may be; but folly is not a sin, is it?” “It is sin’s half-brother, or whole father, or something of the kind, at any rate,” retorted Mr. Stewart; “but here is King’s Cross, and now for Mr. Black,” and so saying the old man sprang as lightly from the compartment as his much younger companion; and, bustling out of the station, hailed a cab, which speedily conveyed the pair to Lincoln’s Inn Fields. “Where Mr. Black had already been,” Arthur informed them. “He is gone on to Dowgate Hill, where, he told me, any message would find him until one o’clock. Shall I send and ask him to come up?” “No,” Mr. Stewart decided; “we will follow him.” “I saw Lord Kemms’ letter in this morning’s _Times_,” Arthur remarked. “Yes; his Lordship ought to have a straight waistcoat, and bread-and-water diet for a week, to teach him not to be so hasty,” answered Mr. Stewart. “Black must answer him.” “He said, he hoped you would leave him to do so,” Arthur replied. “He does not seem to attach much importance to the matter.” “Does he not? I wish I could think it of no consequence,” replied Mr. Stewart. “Now, Douglas, are you ready?” and he again bustled out, and seated himself in the hansom which had waited for them. “Mr. Croft!” it was Arthur, who, following the younger man out, spoke now in a lowered tone of voice, “do you think this will affect the Company?” “There is no telling,” the other answered; “only, if you have many shares, take my advice and get rid of them—quietly, you know, quietly.” “What was Dudley saying to you?” Mr. Stewart inquired as they drove off in the direction of the City.