Then she would buy shares. The market would undergo some extraordinary evolution, and the shares she bought at one pound, less fortunate people would want to buy at twenty-five shillings. Then she would sell, and she would be exactly five shillings per share to the good. And if she had had five thousand shares, why then she would have one thousand two hundred and fifty pounds. It was very simple. On such day dreams as these, men grow rich, but they are usually the men who sell the shares to the dreamers. But Talham was not to be detached. He made a little speech to the mother, and with deplorable _sang froid_, dismissed her from the circle. It was unpardonable, but it was very much Talham. Tillizinni, watching the scene with his keen eyes, was chuckling and learning. But the girl was undoubtedly puzzled. She could not understand whether Talham was serious, or whether his persistence was a form of humour which had just about then become popular owing to the success of a certain socialist dramatist, with whose name I will not sully these fair pages. “I am sure I shall be delighted,” she murmured pleasantly. He had invited her to a concert, and had in his magnetic, plausible way, persuaded her to go. She altered her position, tapping her foot nervously--an infallible sign that she was embarrassed. She looked from Talham to the dark young man at her side. Gregory de Costa owed his readmission to the Yale ménage to the admiration which Mrs. Smith had for his business acumen. There were some subjects which Yvonne did not regard as being worth a quarrel, and Gregory de Costa’s attendance was one of these. He made up for homeliness of face in magnificence of attire. His dress suit was cut so well that he seemed, like another famous character, to have been melted and poured into it. In the breast of his shirt blazed a diamond, almost as big as a hickory nut. His links, when he raised his hand to caress his tiny moustache, radiated light. His bejewelled fingers reminded one irresistibly of the illuminations at Luna Park. “Do you know Mr. de Costa?” asked the girl. Talham bowed to the young man, and the young man bowed to him. For some reason she did not introduce Tillizinni. “I think I have met you before, Captain Talham,” said the young man. “I do not think we have ever met you,” said Talham with deliberation. “In our office?” suggested Mr. de Costa, an encouraging smile on his thick lips. “We have never been into your office,” said Talham. “I’m perfectly sure that I have seen you there,” persisted the other. If he expected that Talham would be satisfied with an exchange of platitudinous pleasantries with the girl, and then withdraw, he was disappointed. If he imagined he could draw Talham to a discussion on so futile a question as his presence in an office at some remote period of his life, he was mad.