"I did and all," said the other, "and I said to my missus: 'Yon's a clever fellow, I'd like to meet him.'" "You have an admiration for the criminal classes, eh?" said the colonel good-humouredly. "Well, I'm not saying you're a criminal," said the other, taking his host literally, "but being a J.P. and on the bench of magistrates, I naturally take an interest in these cases. You never know what you can learn." "And what did your lady wife say?" asked Boundary. The Yorkshireman smiled broadly. "Well, she doesn't take any interest in these things. She's a proper London lady, my wife. She was in a high position when I married." "Five years ago," said Boundary, "you married the daughter of Lord Westsevern. It cost you a hundred thousand pounds to pay the old man's debts." The Yorkshireman stared at him. "How did you know that?" he asked. "You're nominated for Parliament, too, aren't you. And you're to be Mayor of Little Thornhill?" Mr. Crotin laughed uproariously. "Well, you've got me properly taped," he said admiringly, and the colonel agreed with a gesture. "So you're interested in the criminal classes?" Mr. Crotin waved a protesting hand. "I'm not saying you're a member of the criminal classes, colonel," he said. "My friend Crewe here wouldn't think I would be so rude. Of course, I know the charge was all wrong." "That's where you're mistaken," interrupted the colonel calmly; "it was all right." "Eh?" The man stared. "The charge was perfectly sound," said the colonel, playing with his fruit knife; "for twenty years I have been making money by buying businesses at about a twentieth of their value and selling them again." "But how----" began the other. "Wait, I'll tell you. I've got men working for me all over the country, agents and sub-agents, who are constantly on the look-out for scandal. Housekeepers, servants, valets--you know the sort of people who get hold of information." Mr. Crotin was speechless. "Sooner or later I find a very incriminating fact which concerns a gentleman of property. I prefer those scandals which verge on the criminal," the colonel went on. The outraged Mr. Crotin was rolling his serviette. "Where are you going? What are you going to do? The night's young," said the colonel innocently. "I'm going," said Mr. Crotin, very red of face. "A joke's a joke, and when friend Crewe introduced me to you, I hadn't any idea that you were that kind of man. You don't suppose that I'm going to sit here in your society--me with my high connections--after what you've said?" "Why not?" asked the colonel; "after all, business is business, and as I'm making an offer to you for the Riverborne Mill----" "The Riverborne Mill?" roared the spinner. "Ah! that's a joke of yours! You'll buy no Riverborne Mill of me, sitha!" "On the contrary, I shall buy the Riverborne Mill from you. In fact, I have all the papers and transfers ready for you to sign."