When Joan had jumped so far in her conclusions, Gallon escorted his visitor out, flinging back word that he would be in again in half an hour. The girl’s blood sang in her ears. It seemed to her that Fortune was knocking at the door; but could she find the key to open it? She called all her wits to the rescue, and in five minutes that key was grating in the lock. In Gallon’s private room was a small desk, which she used when her services were wanted there. This gave her an excuse to go in, and in passing she threw a glance at Tommy Mellis, which caused him, after the lapse of a decent interval (he counted eighty seconds), to follow. "Once you said you would do anything for me," she began, with a lovely look. "Did you mean it?" "Rather!" "Well, then, the next question is: Will your father do anything for _you_?" "He’ll do a good deal." "If you tell him you’ve a tip about some shares that are bound to rise, will he give you the money to buy them?" "He’d lend it. That’s his way. He’d be tickled to see me taking an interest in business. But what has that got to do with----" "I want to buy some shares--lots of shares--all I can get hold of. To-day they’re going cheap. To-morrow, who can say? They are Clerios." "But, look here, even I know that Clerios are no good. It’s a badly managed line, and the shares are down to next to nothing." "All the better. Mr. Gallon mustn’t know you are in this, as he wants to get hold of all the shares himself. You must trust me enough to have them put into my name, and when I’ve got your profit for you, we’ll go halves. Can you see your father inside half an hour?" "His place is just round the corner." "Well, then, if you _do_ care anything for me, ask him to see you through a big deal. You shall really make on it, I promise you, something worth having besides my--gratitude." "The governor’s a queer fish. If I should let him in----" "You won’t let him in. But we don’t want your father or anybody else in with us. All we want is the loan, and his name, which is a good one in the City, I know. I trust you for that. You must show how clever you are, if you’re anxious to please me. I’ll manage the rest. Now, like a dear, good boy, run off and arrange things with your father." Again Tommy became knight-errant, and hardly was he out of the way when a strange voice was heard in the adjoining office. "Mr. Gallon in? I’m Mr. Mitchison, from Manchester." "Mr. Gallon is out at present, but----" a clerk had begun, when Joan appeared and cut him short. "Mr. Gallon wishes me to see Mr. Mitchison, in his absence. Will you kindly step in here, sir?" The gentleman from Manchester obeyed. Joan’s quick eyes noted his worried air and the genteel shabbiness of his clothing. "I am Mr. Gallon’s confidential secretary," she said. "I know about this business of Clerios. You came instead of wiring? Mr. Gallon rather expected you would."