"I’m not sure yet, till I’ve tried, to see how I like her," replied Joan. "That’s fair, isn’t it? What I want, if I see the yacht, take fancy to her, and we can come to terms, is to hire the _Titania_ for a while. Then, at the end of that time, if I don’t buy her myself, I’ll sell her for you to somebody else; that’s a promise. What would you want for your yacht for a couple of months, all in working order, and the captain and crew’s money included?" "Five hundred pounds," returned Lady John. "You can see her at Cowes." "Well, I don’t mind telling you that’s more than I expected. I’m G. B. Mordaunt’s niece, and some day I suppose I shall be one of the richest women in America, but my money’s tied up till I’m twenty-five. I’ve only an allowance, and Uncle Grierson, who is my guardian, is hard as nails. I’ll tell you what I can do, though. I have some shares which are worth a lot of money, but I don’t want to deal with them myself, as their value is a secret, and my uncle would be mad with me if he knew I was using it. What I was going to say is this. The shares I speak of are worth mighty little to those who aren’t ’in the know,’ and a lot to those who are. If you’ll call to-morrow morning at ten o’clock on a stockbroker in the City, whose address I’ll give you, and tell him you’ve a block of Clerios to dispose of, he’ll jump at the offer. All you must do is to stand firm, and you can get eight hundred pounds out of him. If he says they’re no good, just let your eyes twinkle and tell him G. B. Mordaunt’s niece has been talking to you. That will settle Mr. George Gallon! Keep your five hundred for the yacht, and give the three hundred change to me. Of course, this is provided I like the yacht. You give me an order to see her at Cowes. I’ll start at once, wire you what I think of her, and, if it’s all right, I’ll call here first thing in the morning with the share certificates." Carried away by the girl’s magnetism and dash, Lady John Bevan would have said "Yes" to almost anything. She said "Yes" now with a promptness which surprised herself when she thought of it afterwards, by the cold light of reason. Joan arrived at Cowes before dark, and was delighted with the _Titania_ and her crew. She wired her approval to Lady John, and telegraphed Tommy Mellis, asking him to meet her at Waterloo for the eleven o’clock train from Southampton, bringing the share certificates which had that morning been Mitchison’s. She was sure that Tommy would not fail, and he did not. They had supper together in the grill-room of the Carlton, as Joan was not in evening dress. She told him all she chose to tell, and no more; and thus ended the busiest day of Joan Carthew’s life.