It chanced that one of the passengers on the boat was Mr. Aaron Birsch. He had been presented to me some weeks before by Mr. Bunting. I knew that he was a turf commissioner, had speculated with success in cottage property, and was commonly reported to be much richer than he looked. Beyond that, I know very little of him. Apparently, however, he had made it his business to know quite a good deal of me. Mr. Bunting was his informant, and I had always been a quite special favourite of the _doyen_ of the Soles. Mr. Birsch came up to me at once. We chatted on various topics, and he told me of something which was likely to be quite useful for Goodwood. Then he said suddenly: "Matter of fact, there was a bit of private business I wanted a word with you about. This boat's too full of what I call riff-raff. Mouth-organs. Bad taste. Can't hear yourself speak. But we get an hour at Ramsgate, and if you'll take a snack with me there, I can tell you what I've got to say." More from curiosity than from anything else, I accepted. And I must say that our luncheon conversation was rather remarkable. BIRSCH: To come to the point, you're the very identical girl that I want Alfred to marry. MARGE (_innocently_): Alfred? BIRSCH: Yes, my son. MARGE: But I have never even seen him. BIRSCH: And when you have you'll probably wish you hadn't. But don't let that prejudice you. It's the inside of the head that counts. That boy's got a perfect genius for cottage property and real tact with it. Only last week he raised an old woman's rent a shilling a week, and when he left she gave him a rosebud and said she'd pray for him. It takes some doing--a thing like that. Now, I want a public career for that boy, and if he marries you he can't miss it. Do you know what Mr. Bunting said to me about you? MARGE (_breathlessly_): But he's so flattering. I think he likes me--I don't know why. I sometimes wonder---- BIRSCH (_just as if I'd never spoken_): Bunting said to me: "That girl, Marge, will get into the newspapers. It may be in the Court News, and it may be in the Police-court News. That will depend on which she prefers. But she'll get there, and she'll stick there!" That's what I want for Alfred. Everything's ready for him to start firing, but he needs you to sight the gun. MARGE: And if you can't get me, whom would you like? BIRSCH: Well, Lady Artemis Morals has some gift for publicity. But Alfred won't marry a title--say's he rather thinks of making a title for himself. The boy's got ambition. The cash is forthcoming. And you can do the rest. MARGE: It is a flattering offer. You'll let me think over it? He kindly consented, and we returned to the boat. However, on the way back the sea became very rough and unpleasant; and I threw up the idea.