Vane held himself in hand with an effort, "I dare say you're right on the latter point," he informed her. "It's a fact I'm sometimes thankful for. It leaves one more free to go straight ahead. Now, as I see the dried-fruit man coming in search of you, and you evidently don't mean to answer me, I can't urge the matter." He turned away and left her wondering why he had abandoned his usual persistency, unless it was that an uneasy conscience had driven him from the field. It did not occur to her that the man had, under strong provocation, merely yielded to the prompting of a somewhat hasty temper. In the meanwhile, he crossed the room in an absent-minded manner, and presently found himself near Jessie, who made room for him at her side. "It looks as if you were in disgrace to-night," she said, and waited with concealed impatience for his answer. If Evelyn had been clever or bold enough to give him a hint as to what he was suspected of, Jessie foresaw undesirable complications. "I think I am," he owned without reflection. "The trouble is, that while I may deserve it on general grounds, I'm unconscious of having done anything very reprehensible in particular." Jessie was sensible of considerable relief. The man was sore and resentful; he would not press Evelyn for an explanation, and the breach would widen. In the meanwhile she must play her cards skilfully. "Then that fact should sustain you," she rejoined. "We shall miss you after to-morrow; more than one of us. Of course, it's too late to tell you that you were not altogether wise in resolving to go." "Everybody has been telling me the same thing for the last few weeks," Vane informed her. "Then I'll only wish you every success. It's a pity Bendle and the other man haven't paid up yet." She met his surprised look with an engaging smile. "You needn't be astonished. There's not very much goes on in the city that I don't hear about--you know how men talk business here; and it's interesting to look on, even when one can't actually take a hand in the game. It's said the watchers sometimes see most of it." "To tell the truth, it's the uncertainty as to what those two men might do that has been chiefly worrying me." "I believe I understand the position; they've been hanging fire, haven't they? But I've reasons for believing they'll come to a decision before very long." Vane looked troubled, "That's interesting, but I ought to warn you that your brother----" "I've no intention of giving him away, and, as a matter of fact, I think you are a little prejudiced against him. After all, he's not your greatest danger. There's a cabal against you among your shareholders." She knew by the way he looked at her that he admired her acumen. "Yes," he agreed; "I've suspected that." "There are two courses open to you; the first is to put off your expedition." The answer was to the effect she had anticipated. "I can't do so, for several reasons."