“I am not disguising from myself the fact that Amy is an heiress. At the same time, I am not altogether a pauper myself. But I don’t think we two need go into that part of the money question, Mr. Shelf. As a point of fact (as you know quite well), she and I first met one another abroad, and fell in love, and got engaged without knowing a single word about our mutual outlook, social or financial. The point here is that Amy wants to become part purchaser in this Kent property with myself, and on her behalf I come to you for the formal permission. You know by the terms of her father’s will she was to have all her wishes with regard to the property taken into consideration after she reached the age of twenty-one, but was still to be under the semi-guidance of the trustees till she reached her twenty-third birthday.” “I am only one of the trustees,” said Shelf. “You must arrange to bring my co-trustee up to meet me, and then I will talk the matter over with him.” “I have called on that reverend gentleman before I came to you,” said Fairfax, “and he quite meets with mine and Amy’s views. He will come up to town and see you himself in the morning at the City office. But in the mean time he sends his permission in this letter.” Fairfax selected a paper from his pocket-book and handed it to Mr. Shelf. “I suppose you recognize the signature,” he said. Shelf started, the paper rustling between his large white fingers. He had a sentence on the end of his tongue, but with an effort he swallowed it. Then, with a frown and a quick catching of the breath, he turned to the letter and read it through. As it chanced, Fairfax had seen that momentary look of disquiet, and being a young man of some penetration, he argued down to the reason of it. “Why,” he asked himself, “should the old hypocrite be upset when I ‘supposed he recognized his co-trustee’s handwriting?’ I’m bothered if I can see any definite reason, but there must be something pretty fishy somewhere. Theodore Shelf is not the man to let slip that kind of nervousness without some very excellent cause. I’m beginning to think that those of Amy’s interests which are in his hands will be none the worse for being a little looked after.” Mr. Theodore Shelf glanced up from the letter. “Of course you understand,” he said, “that I cannot act upon an informal communication like this? My co-trustee is a most excellent Christian, but, I regret to say, a bad man of business.” “Pernicious, to say the least of him. He seems to have the flimsiest notion of the use of paper and signatures. Still, he means entirely well, and that is why I do not want to worry him unduly. So, with permission, Mr. Shelf, and to take the burden of details off your shoulders as well as off his, I will instruct my own solicitor to see to all the preliminaries as to which stock will bear selling out of best.”