“First-rate, sir--especially if you will condescend to head it,” returned the small speculator with a bow to the great one. “Well--we shall see!” exclaimed Mr. Podgson. “But first as to the probability of success? Let me just make a calculation or two--nothing is done without calculations; and I’m rayther quick at figures. Now, your capital is £8,000,000 in 400,000 shares. Good! Deposit, £2 2_s._ per share. Good again! But about the expenses and receipts--the outlay and the incomings, on which we may reckon with certainty? Let me see--twice two’s four--and twice four’s eight--and nine times nine’s eighty one--and eleven times eleven’s a hundred and twenty one--that gives us five hundred thousand there--then there’s two hundred thousand here----Well!” cried the great man, suddenly interrupting himself in the midst of calculations which, though they were as unintelligible as the Chinese language to Mr. Styles, it is to be hoped were a trifle more comprehensive to the gentleman who was making them in a musing, half-whispering tone, and counting mysteriously on his fingers at the same time:--“well!” he cried, suddenly desisting from the arithmetical process with the satisfied air of a man who had arrived at a conviction by means of the most subtle considerations,--“well, I _do_ think it will succeed, Mr. Styles--and I----I----” “Will condescend to become our Chairman, Mr. Podgson?” said the other, finishing the sentence which the Railway Lion’s extreme modesty and sensitive bashfulness had left thus incomplete. “I am well aware, sir,--and the public are well aware likewise--that you have entered into the grand affairs of the Railway World with no interested motive,--that you never took a single share with the idea of making it a means of gain! No--sir--your views have been wholly and solely to benefit your fellow countrymen. Indeed, you yourself have proclaimed as much in your place in the House of Commons--and the civilised world echoes with the mighty truth! You are a benefactor, sir--a philanthropist--a patriot; and no sordid ideas ever influenced you! It is upon this ground, and on this ground only,--without even venturing to hint that there will be five thousand shares reserved for the Chairman and Provisional Committee-men, and that they are certain to rise to a high premium the moment they are issued,--without daring to mention such a thing in _your_ presence, sir--but relying solely on your known readiness to countenance every fair--legitimate--and honourable undertaking which promises to benefit our fellow-men and produce fifty per cent. profits,--’tis upon these grounds, Mr. Podgson, that I solicit you to become the Chairman of the Grand British Longitudinal Railway!”