"Perhaps Mr Saxby would like to walk round the garden before he goes away," continued Aunt Sophia, looking at a statuette beneath a glass shade as she spoke. "He will find my nephew and the doctor there.-- Naomi, my dear, come with me." "Really madam"--began the stockbroker. "Of course you will charge your expenses for this visit to me, Mr Saxby," said Aunt Sophia coldly; and without another word she swept out of the room. "Well, if ever I"--Mr Saxby did not finish his sentence as he stood in the hall, but delivered a tremendous blow right into his hat, checking it in time to prevent injury to the glossy fabric; and then, sticking it sideways upon his head, and his hands beneath his coat-tails, he strolled out into the garden. Ten minutes later, Aunt Sophia returned into the drawing-room, and as she did so, a tall dark figure rose from where it was bending over a book. "Bless the man! how you made me jump," cried Aunt Sophia. "I beg your pardon--I'm extremely sorry, Miss Raleigh," said Prayle softly. "I was just looking through that little work." "Oh!" said Aunt Sophia shortly. "By the way, Miss Raleigh--I am sure you will excuse me." "Certainly, Mr Prayle, certainly," said Aunt Sophia, who evidently supposed that the speaker was about to leave the room. "Thank you," he said softly. "I only wanted to observe that I am engaged a great deal in the City, and--er--it often falls to my lot-- er--to be aware of good opportunities for making investments." "Indeed," said Aunt Sophia. "Yes; not always, but at times," continued Prayle. "I thought I would name it to you, as you might perhaps feel disposed to take shares, say, in some object of philanthropic design. I find that these affairs generally pay good dividends, while the shareholders are perfectly safe." "Thank you, Mr Prayle," said Aunt Sophia shortly. "I don't know that I have any money to invest." "Exactly so," exclaimed Prayle. "Of course I did not for a moment suppose that for the present you would have; but still I thought I would name the matter to you. There is some difficulty in obtaining shares of this class. They are apportioned amongst a very few." "And do they pay a high percentage?" "Very, very high. The shareholders have been known to divide as much as twenty per cent, amongst them." "Indeed, Mr Prayle." "Yes, madam, indeed," said the young man, as solemnly as if it had been some religious question. "That settles it then," said Aunt Sophia cheerfully. "My dear madam?" "If they pay twenty per cent, the thing is not honest." "My dear madam, I am speaking of no special undertaking," said Prayle; "only generally."