"We have folks who're on the fringe of it, only we see they live all together. People who would be respectable live somewhere else, except, a few who have to consider cheapness, but it's no a recommendation to be seen going into yon quarter after dark." This left Evelyn thoughtful, since she had undoubtedly seen Vane going there. She considered herself a judge of character and generally trusted her intuitions, and she believed the man's visit to the neighbourhood in question admitted of some satisfactory explanation. On the other hand, she felt that her friends should be beyond suspicion. Taking it all round, she was rather vexed with Vane, and it cost her some trouble to drive the matter out of her mind, though she succeeded in doing so. She did not see Vane next day, but the latter called upon Nairn at his office during the afternoon. "Have you had any more applications for the new stock?" he asked. "I have not," said Nairn. "Neither Bendle nor Howiston has paid up yet." "Investors are shy; that's a fact," Vane confessed. "It's unfortunate. I've already put off my trip north as long as possible; I wanted to see things on a satisfactory basis before I went." "A prudent wish. I would advise ye to carry it out." "What do you mean by that?" "Something like this: If the money's no forthcoming, we may be compelled to fall back upon a different plan, and, unless ye're to the fore, the decision of a shareholders' meeting might not suit ye. Considering the position and the stock ye hold, any views ye might express would carry mair weight than mine could do in your absence." Vane drummed with his fingers on the table. "I suppose that's the case; but I've got to make the journey. With moderately good fortune it shouldn't take me long." "Ye would be running some risk if anything delayed ye and we had to call a meeting before ye got back." "I see that, but it can't be helped. I expect to be back before I'm wanted. Anyway, I could leave you authority to act on my behalf." After a further attempt to dissuade him, Nairn spread out one hand resignedly. "He who will to Cupar maun be left to gang," he said. "Whiles, I have wondered why any one should be so keen on getting there, but doubtless a douce Scottish town has mair attractions for a sensible person than the rugged North-West in winter time." Vane, who smiled at this, went out and left him; and when he reached home Nairn briefly recounted the interview to his wife over his evening meal. Evelyn, who was with them, listened attentively. "Yon man will no hear reason," Nairn concluded. "He's thrawn." Evelyn had already noticed that her host, for whom she had a strong liking, spoke broader Scots when he was either amused or angry, and she supposed that Vane's determination disturbed him. "But why should he persist in leaving the city, when it's to his disadvantage to do so, as you lead one to believe it is?" she asked.