"Very shocking, my dear sir, and at such a time, but I have not tasted wine like that for years." The Major sipped and sipped again, and in despair Clive forced himself to think of the hospitality he had received from his new friend, and giving up all thought of work for the day, unlocked a cupboard and took out a broad flattish cigar-box. "Try one, sir," he said, as he opened the box, and displayed a row of spindle-shaped rolls carefully wrapped in foil. "Well, really," said the Major, with his eyes glistening as he glanced at the brand and the box, "I--I cannot refuse, Mr Reed. Dear me, I cannot offer you hospitality like this--the finest of wine, the choicest brand of cigars. Hah!" he sighed, after lighting up, and exhaling a few whiffs of thick smoke, "exquisite! Mr Reed, one has always been taught to be suspicious of strangers. I believe I have been of you--you of me. But somehow you impressed me very favourably as a plain straightforward English gentleman; and I hope--there, I find a difficulty in expressing myself." "You hope, Major Gurdon, that I was as favourably impressed. I proved it, sir, when I offered to procure for you some shares in this mine." "Ah! I was coming to that, for I have repented, Mr Reed." "Then you would like to be a holder, sir?" "One moment, Mr Reed," said the Major warmly. "You have been my guest; you have seen my child. Mr Reed, my one thought in life is to be ready to feel at death that I have left her modestly independent of the world, single, married, according to her wishes. I ask you, then, as an English gentleman--a man of honour, shall I be safe in taking up some shares pretty largely in this venture?" "My dear sir," said Clive quietly, "no man can be perfectly certain about a mine. It may grow richer, it may fail, but this was my father's pet scheme; he was a man of great insight and experience, and I believe in the mine to such an extent, that I am ready to trust it and recommend it to my friends." "Then you think it will pay large dividends?" "After what you have seen to-day, can you doubt it?" "No," said the Major, after a few moments' thought, "I cannot doubt either you or the mine, Mr Reed, and this evening I shall write to my broker to get me--a--a--few--" Clive Reed smiled. "You will write in vain, sir. I doubt very much whether you could get any." "Indeed! Too late?" "They never went upon the market, sir, but were distributed amongst a few friends of my father. You might get some, but only at an exorbitant price, which I would not advise you to give; but I could let you have some of mine." "At what price?" said the Major, with a searching look which was not lost by Clive, and he smiled slightly. "At par, of course." "My dear sir, this is very good of you. I--I should much like to hold five hundred shares." "So many, sir?" "Yes. You think it a good venture?"