John Taylor drained a glass of champagne and said his companions talked as though they were Jay Goulds and Jim Fisks. “What is the deal, anyway?” he added. “If there’s money around, the devil knows I need it! Unless things take a lightning change soon, I’ll have to,” and he lurched unsteadily to his feet. Chelsea gently pushed the young man back in his chair, and filled the wine-glasses once more. Then he said:-- “I’ve got five thousand dollars’ worth of United States five-twenty bonds I want to sell, Mr. Taylor, and I think you can do it for me! I’d do it myself, only I got ’em in a queer way, old chap, and I want to get rid of ’em on the cautious. They’ll sell easy, and there’s twenty-five per cent in the deal for you.” “And you know the Wall Street game a long sight better ’n my friend,” put in English. “I know something about the game in the Street,” said Taylor, with a contemptuous shrug of his shoulders. “I might negotiate the bonds if I could see my way clear!” “Here, fill ’em up again, Mr. Wales!” said Chelsea George, and once more the trio drained their glasses. But the game had been played. Chelsea had brought the bonds with him, and Taylor carried them home. The next day he sold them, and that night he met the two Georges. When he left them, twelve hundred dollars were in his pocket. It occurred to him that there must have been something illegal about the transaction, but to him, then, it made no difference. He must have money. Now that he had it, he was seized with a spirit of exultation. Two-thirds of the snug sum in his pocket would pay off the old scores. These done away with, he would start anew. And, too, the ease with which he had made the money fascinated him. He began to wonder whether or not he would have another opportunity. If the bonds had come into the possession of the Englishmen by fraud, he didn’t know it, so why should he care; he was not supposed to inquire where they came from. He had offered them to a broker of a fine business reputation, and no questions had been asked. Of course the bonds were all right!