"Seems to take all right too," admitted Mr Hammet. "I was offered a level dollar by a friend of mine the other day that you had over half a million members. I took it in a sporting spirit, because I know that half a million needs a lot of raking in, and I put it at rather less myself--but, of course, as you are close about it we can never settle up." Half a million, it may be observed, was everybody's property, as an estimate on "excellent authority." "We don't publish figures, as a matter of fact," admitted Salt half-reluctantly, "but I don't know why there should be any very particular secret about it----" "Oh, every office has its cupboards and its skeletons," said Mr Hammet generously. "But if one could see inside," he added with a knowing look, "I think that I should win." "No," exclaimed Salt suddenly. "I don't mind telling you in confidence. We have passed the half million: passed it last--well, some time ago." "Lucky for me that it is in confidence," remarked the pressman with a grimace, "or I should have to pay up. What is the exact figure, then?" he ventured carelessly. "No one could quite tell you that," replied Salt, equally off-hand. "Six hundred thousand?" suggested Mr Hammet. "Oh, that is a considerable advance,--a hundred thousand," admitted Salt with transparent disappointment. It is not pleasant when you have impressed your man to have him expecting too much the next minute. "I was thinking of the old Buttercup League," said Mr Hammet. "You took the remains over, lock, stock, and barrel, I believe?" "Yes, all that would come. Half belonged to your party really, and half of the remainder were children. What an organisation that was in its time! A million and a half!" The smart young newspaper man noted Mr Salt's open admiration for these figures. It convinced him that the newer League was not yet within measurable distance of half that total. "And in the end it did--what?" he remarked. Salt was bound to apologise. "What is there to do, after all?" he admitted. "What can you do but keep your people together, show them where their interest lies, and wait?" "And rake in the shekels?" suggested Mr Hammet airily. "Oh, that!" agreed Salt a little uneasily. "Of course one has to look after the finances." "Ra-ther," agreed Mr Hammet. "Wish I had the job. Do you smoke here as a general thing?" "Oh yes," replied Salt, who never did. "Try one of these." "Fairish cigars. Better than you'd find in the old man's private box up at our show," was the verdict. "But then we haven't a revenue of half a million." "Of course I rely on you not to say anything about our numbers," said the secretary anxiously. The visitor made a reassuring gesture, expressive of inviolable secrecy. "Though I suppose you have to make a return for income-tax purposes," he mused. "My aunt! what an item you must have!" "No," replied Salt. "We do not pay anything."