“Ah, that’s exaggerated,” explained his lordship. “You forget the beastly income tax. Still, I was not referring to the amount; I merely wished to explain my methods of dealing with it. Here are the names and addresses of four eminent solicitor persons in the city. There is little use of my keeping four dogs and barking myself, is there? I’ve really twelve dogs altogether, as represented in this cardcase, but one or other of these four will doubtless suit our purpose. Now, this firm of solicitors attends to one form of charity.” “I don’t want charity,” growled Mackeller. “Quite so. I am merely explaining. This firm attends to all the charities that are recognized in our set; the hospitals, the--well whatever they happen to be. When applied to personally in these matters, I write my name on the card of these solicitors, and forward it. Application is then made to them. They look into the matter, and save me the fatigue of investigation. The next firm”--holding up a second card--“deals with charities that are our of our purview; halfdays at the seaside, and that sort of thing. Now I come to business. This firm”--showing the third card--“looks after permanent investments, while this”--lifting the fourth--“takes charge of anything which is speculative in its nature. The applicant receives the particular card which pertains to his particular line of desire. He calls upon the estimable firm of solicitors, and either convinces them, or fails: gets his money, or doesn’t. So you see, my affairs are competently transacted, and I avoid the emotional strain of listening to explanations which probably I have not the mental grasp of business to understand. Now, which of these four cards may I have the pleasure of autographing for you?” “Not one of them, my lord,” replied Mackeller. “The Honorable John Hazel said that if you would listen to me, he thought I might interest you.” “Oh, impossible,” drawled his lordship, sitting back languidly in his chair. “Yes, he said it would be a hard task, but I am accustomed to difficulties. I asked you, as we came in, to give me ten minutes. Will you do it?” “Why,” protested his lordship, “we have already spent ten minutes at least.” “Yes, fooling with cards.” “Ah, I’m more accustomed to handling cards than listening to a financial conversation; not these kind of cards, either.” “Will you, for the sake of John Hazel, who tells me he is a friend of yours, give me ten minutes more of your time?” “What has Jack Hazel to do with this? Are you going to share with him? Is he setting you on to me for loot, and then do you retire into a dark corner, and divide? Jack Hazel’s always short of money.” “No, we don’t divide, my lord. Mr. Hazel has been speculating in the city, and he stands to win a bit if I can pull off what I’m trying to do. So, if you agree to my proposal, he will prove a winner, so will I, so will you, for you will share in the profits.” “Oh, but I don’t need the money.” “Well, we do.”