"Because if there should be any bother about the matter hereafter," continued Mr. Werner, as coolly as if the lawyer had not spoken, "it may be deuced awkward for the St. Vedast Wharf folks--and--and--some other people." "I do not imagine there will be any bother," said Mr. Benning. "There is no help for it if you allow Kleinwort to dictate to you." "I do not intend to allow him to dictate to me," was the reply. "It was such folly the pair starting off to Homewood yesterday evening and setting Mrs. Mortomley's mane up at once." "I do not attach much importance to that, but still I am surprised at Kleinwort committing such a mistake; a man who thinks himself so confoundedly clever, too." "He is clever; he is the cleverest man I knew," commented Mr. Werner. "I dare say he is," agreed Mr. Benning; "but you remember those who live longest see most of the game, and some one, I doubt not, will live to know how many trumps our little friend really holds." Mr. Werner laughed--not pleasantly. "You try to see the cards of all other men, Benning, but you do not show your own." "I have none to show," was the reply. "A man in my position cannot afford to play at pitch and toss with fortune. Great gains and great losses, great risks and great successes I am forced to leave to--well, say Kleinwort. His name is as good as that of any other man with which to finish the sentence." "And yet to look at his office," began Mr. Werner. Mr. Benning had been in it a dozen times before, and knew every article it contained. Nevertheless, he apparently accepted his companion's remark as an invitation to have still another glance, and his eyes wandered slowly and thoughtfully over every object in the room. When he had quite finished his scrutiny, he said, "You are quite right. To look around his office, Mr. Kleinwort ought never to have had a transaction with the General Chemical Company, and if I had any young client in whom I was interested, I should advise him never to have a transaction with Mr. Kleinwort." "Indeed, you are mistaken," remarked Mr. Werner eagerly. "I never meant to imply anything of the kind." "Oh! indeed," replied the lawyer. "Well, it does not signify, but I thought you did." "I never do attempt conversation with any one of these fellows but I have reason to repent it," Mr. Werner observed thoughtfully to himself, and there was a considerable amount of truth in the remark. Conversation in the City, if a man have anything to conceal, is about as safe and pleasant an exercise as walking through a field set with spring guns. Kleinwort's _pour-parler_ kept him safe enough, skirting with pleasant phrases and apparently foolish devices round and about dangerous ground, but Werner did not chance to be quite so great a rogue as his friend, and he certainly regarded life and its successes much more seriously, though not more earnestly, than the man who was good enough to "make use of England."