From this agreeable point of vantage, he accommodated young men of good family, and equally good prospects, when they were temporarily hard up. He had a very select _clientele_, and, to do him justice, for a moneylender, he was not extortionate. "Treat your clients fairly, and they will come again. You make regular customers of them. They don't go buzzing off to Tom, Dick, and Harry." These were the principles on which he conducted his very lucrative business. He was in a very good humour this morning, as he got out of the taxi which had brought him from Waterloo to his office. There were very few letters, but their contents pleased him; they suggested good business. The last one was from Guy Rossett, who intimated that he would call about twelve o'clock, as he wanted to have a short chat. The astute Spaniard, known to all but a very few as the naturalised Englishman, Jackson, smiled. He had not enjoyed the pleasure of Guy's acquaintance very long. Mrs Hargrave had brought the two men together, and the introduction had been effected through the following circumstances. At a certain period, Guy had found himself very short of money, practically due to bridge losses at the flat in Mount Street. He had rather hesitatingly asked the charming widow if she knew of any decent moneylender, who would finance him at a rate of interest that was not too extortionate. Violet had raised her candid blue eyes--they were her best asset--to his, with a world of pity in them. "Oh, Mr Rossett, I am so sorry to hear of this. It is all this horrible bridge. I always seem lucky, but such a lot of my friends have bad luck. I think I shall give up these parties, if they are going to embarrass the people I like." There was a soft mist in her eyes, as she gave utterance to these noble sentiments. Guy felt a little thrill pass through him. She was not a mere worldling, she had her full share of real kindness, of real womanliness. "One's own fault, you know," he answered lightly. "I suppose I ought to be old enough to take care of myself. I needn't play bridge if I don't want to, need I?" Mrs Hargrave did not answer for a moment. She seemed struggling with her remorseful thoughts. Then, after a brief space, inspiration came to her, and she played a strong and winning card. She laid her hand upon his arm, and her voice trembled ever so little as she spoke. "Mr Rossett, we have been very good friends, have we not? And you were a pal of dear old Jack's long before I met him." Rossett nodded. At the moment he had no idea what she was driving at, or what she was leading up to. And he was pretty quick too.