Her husband nodded. There was nothing in Peter's expression to denote that he had already achieved the first object of his visit. "I shall not detain you," he said. "Your name has been mentioned to me, Mr. Heseltine-Wrigge, as a financier likely to have a large sum of money at his disposal. I have a scheme which needs money. Providing the security is unexceptionable, are you in a position to do a deal?" "How much do you want?" Mr. Heseltine-Wrigge asked. "A million to a million and a half," Peter answered. "Dollars?" "Pounds." It was not Mr. Heseltine-Wrigge's pose to appear surprised. Nevertheless his eyebrows were slightly raised. "Say, what is this scheme?" he inquired. "First of all," Peter replied, "I should like to know whether there's any chance of business if I disclose it." "Not an atom," Mr. Heseltine-Wrigge declared. "I have just committed myself to the biggest financial transaction of my life, and it will clean me out." "Then I won't waste your time," Peter announced, rising. "Sit down for a moment," Mr. Heseltine-Wrigge invited, biting the end off a cigar and passing the box towards Peter. "That's all right. My wife doesn't mind. Say, it strikes me as rather a curious thing that you should come in here and talk about a million and a half when that's just the amount concerned in my other little deal." Peter smiled. "As a matter of fact, it isn't at all queer," he answered. "I don't want the money. I came to see whether you were really interested in the other affair--the Turkish loan, you know." Mr. Heseltine-Wrigge withdrew his cigar from his mouth and looked steadily at his visitor. "Say, Baron," he declared, "you've got a nerve!" "Not at all," Peter replied. "I'm here as much in your interests as my own." "Whom do you represent, any way?" Mr. Heseltine-Wrigge inquired. "A company you never heard of," Peter replied. "Our offices are in the underground places of the world, and we don't run to brass plates. I am here because I am curious about that loan. Turkey hasn't a shadow of security to offer you. Everything which she can pledge is pledged to guarantee the interest on existing loans to France and England. She is prevented by treaty from borrowing in Germany. If you make a loan without security, Mr. Heseltine-Wrigge, I suppose you understand your position. The loan may be repudiated at any moment." "Kind of a philanthropist, aren't you?" Mr. Heseltine-Wrigge remarked quietly. "Not in the least," Peter assured him. "I know there's some tricky work going on, and I suppose I haven't brains enough to get to the bottom of it. That's why I've come blundering in to you, and why, I suppose, you'll be telling the whole story to the Count von Hern at luncheon in an hour's time." Mr. Heseltine-Wrigge smoked in silence for a moment or two.