The interview with Mr. Fricker was in a different key, the only likeness being that the transmission theory still seemed applicable, and indeed inevitable here and there. The giggles and the coyness were gone, and with them the calculated guilelessness; the vulgarity was almost gone. Fricker was not a gentleman, but, thanks to his quietness and freedom from affectation, it was often possible to forget the fact. He had a dry humour, she soon found, and it was stirred by the contrast between his visitor's utter ignorance of business and her resolutely business-like manner. It was evident that she did not intend to clasp his knees. 'I see you've taken my measure, Miss Ryle,' he remarked. 'Mrs. Trevalla has shown you my letter, you tell me, and you have come to make me a proposition?' 'It seems from the letter that they can go on making her pay money?' 'Precisely--at stated intervals and of definite amounts. Three several amounts of one thousand pounds at intervals of not less than two months--the first being due immediately, and the others sure to come later.' 'Yes, I think I understand that.' 'I endeavour to express myself clearly, Miss Ryle.' Peggy ignored a profane gleam of amusement in his eye. 'I suppose it's no good talking about how she came to buy such curious shares,' began Peggy. 'I think you'll have gathered from Mrs. Trevalla that such a discussion would not be fruitful,' interposed Fricker. 'Have you got to pay too?' 'That question is, pardon me, worse than fruitless; it's irrelevant.' 'She can't pay that money and what she owes besides unless she has time given her. And, even if she has, she'll worry herself to death, waiting and watching for the--for the----' 'Calls,' he suggested. 'That's the legal term.' 'Oh, yes. The calls.' 'I am not the company; I am not her creditors. I can't give Mrs. Trevalla time.' 'You wouldn't if you could!' Peggy blazed out. 'Irrelevant again,' he murmured, gently shaking his head. 'I didn't come here to beg,' Peggy explained. 'But I've a sort of idea that, if you had the shares instead of Trix, you could get out of it cheaper somehow. I mean, you could make some arrangement with the company, or get rid of the shares, or something. Anyhow I believe you could manage to pay less than she'll have to.' 'It's possible you're flattering me there.' 'You'd try?' 'You may, I think, give me the credit of supposing I should try,' said Fricker, smiling again. 'She'll have to pay, or--or try to pay----' 'She'll be liable to pay----' 'Yes, liable to pay three thousand pounds altogether?' He nodded. 'What are the shares worth?' 'Three thousand pounds less than nothing, Miss Ryle.' His terrible coolness appalled Peggy. She could not resist a glance of horror, but she held herself in hand. 'Then, if you took them, the most you'd lose would be three thousand pounds, and you'd have a very good chance of losing less?'