"And you won't have one, ma'am," said Mr Saxby, who was far more autocratic in his own office than at a friend's house. "What! are they all sold?" "Sold? Pooh! ma'am, hardly any. There are not many people lunatics enough to throw their money into an Indian gold mine." "Saxby, you are the most obstinate, aggravating man I ever _did_ know. Look here; will not these figures convince you?" "No, ma'am; only make me more obstinate--more aggravating still." "Then what do these figures mean?" "Mean, madam? To trap spinster ladies with small incomes, half-pay officers, poor clergymen with miserable livings--the whole lot of poor genteel people, and those who like to dabble in investments--people who can't afford to lose, and people who can. Why, my dear madam, use your own judgment. If there were a safe fifteen per cent, there, the shares would be gone in one hour, and at a heavy premium the next." "Humph!" said Aunt Sophia. "Of course you do all my nephew's business?" "Yes, madam; it all comes here." "You know what shares he holds?" "I think so. Of course, he may have been to other brokers; but he would not have done so without good reason." "As far as you can, then," said Aunt Sophia, "keep an eye upon what are sold, and I should like to be made acquainted with any sales that may take place." "Well, really, my dear Miss Raleigh, such a proceeding--" "Yes, yes, man; I know all about that; but you know to what a state he has been reduced. I love him like a son, and I--Now look here, Saxby; I'm telling you this, because I think you are an honest man." "Well, I hope I am, ma'am." "Then look here; I will speak out. I won't mention any names; but I am afraid that designing people are at work to get possession of some of his property, and I want it watched." "Rather a serious charge, Miss Raleigh." "Stuff and nonsense, man! Not half serious enough. Just look at this prospectus for a moment. There are some good names to it. I'll talk about those other matters afterwards." Aunt Sophia fixed her double glasses upon her nose, and stared through them upon the neat and dapper stockbroker, who stared in return, and frowned, otherwise he would have laughed, for the spring of Aunt Sophia's _pince-nez_ was very strong, and its effect was to compress the organ upon which it rested, so that the ordinarily thin sharp point of the lady's nose was turned into a sickly-looking bulb, that was, to say the least, grotesque. "Halt!" said Mr Saxby, reading quickly: "Society for the Elevation of the Human Race in large and Crowded Towns; patrons, the Right Hon.-- hum-ha-hum; his Grace the--hum-ha-hum; the Lord Bishop of--hum-ha-hum; directors--hum-ha-hum; M.P.--hum--Mr--hum,"--Mr Saxby's voice grew less and less distinct, becoming at last a continuance of the sound expressed in letters by _hum_, but he finished off sharply with: "Secretary, Mr Arthur Prayle!--Well, ma'am, and what of this?"