"The vase is known to every connoisseur in Europe," he said. "No one dare buy it--though," he added smiling, "many would like to!" Sheard coughed uneasily. He had a task to perform. "Your collection represents a huge fortune, Sir Leopold," he said. "Say four hundred thousand pounds!" answered the collector comfortably. "A large sum. Think of the thousands whom that amount would make happy!" Having broken the ice, Sheard found his enforced task not altogether distasteful. It seemed wrong to him, unjust, and in strict disaccordance with the views of the _Gleaner_, that these thousands should be locked up for one man's pleasure, while starvation levied its toll upon the many. Moreover, he nurtured a temperamental distaste for the whole Semitic race--a Western resentment of that insidious Eastern power. Crofter looked surprised, and clearly thought his friend's remark in rather bad taste. Sir Leopold faced round abruptly, and a hard look crept into his small bright eyes. "Mr. Sheard," he said harshly. "I began life as a pauper. What I have, I have worked for." "You have enjoyed excellent health." "I admit it." "Had you, in those days of early poverty, been smitten down with sickness, of what use to you would your admittedly fine commercial capacity have been? You would then, only too gladly, have availed yourself of such an institution as the Sladen Hospital, for instance." Sir Leopold started. "What have you to do with the Sladen Hospital?" "Nothing. It has accomplished great work in the past." "Do you know anything of _this_?" Jesson's manner became truculent. He pulled some papers from his pocket, and selecting a plain correspondence card, handed it to Sheard. The card bore no address, being headed simply: "Final appeal." It read: "Your cheque toward the re-opening of the Out-Patient's Wing of Sladen Hospital has not been forwarded." Sheard failed to recognise the writing, and handed the card back, shaking his head. "Oh!" said Jesson suspiciously; "because I've had three of these anonymous applications--and they don't come from the hospital authorities." "Why not comply?" asked Sheard. "Let me announce in the _Gleaner_ that you have generously subscribed ten thousand pounds." "_What!_" rapped Sir Leopold. "Do you take me for a fool?" He glared angrily. "Before we go any farther, sir--is this touting business the real object of your visit?"