The Profiteers

of trepidation, mingled with considerable distaste. Mr. Peter Phipps' manner, however, w

going to apologise right away," he said. "I don't get much of an opportunity of a chat with you whil

little stiffly. "As a matter of fact, however, I was surprised to

Phipps declared with a

you really have anything to say to me, perhaps

th he made use of one of his favourite weapons,-silence. He sat quite still, studying the situation, and in those few moments Josephine found herself studying him. He was tall, over six feet, with burly shoulders, a thickset body, and legs rather short for his height. He was clean-shaven, his hair wa

with the interior of my sitting room?" Josephine

ok his

Lady Dredlinton, to talk

ave come upon a very purposeless errand. I do not discuss my hus

r. It was a favourite attitude of his,

don't affect the matter as it stands at present between us. I have a kindly feeling for

ne said calmly, "y

here this afternoon. Your husband is not playing

do you

t's talk like a sensible man and woman. Do you want

ure," Josephine assured him. "I cann

was a littl

hat your husband's salary for doing n

that," Josephine answered col

ut him on the Board and I am paying him four thousand a yea

"I know nothing whatever about business. On

t," Phipps continued. "I imagined that it would be gratifying to you. I imagine

er Lord Dredlinton may draw from your company, he has kept.

doubt for a second, however, th

he declared. "Why, what do you supp

a, nor have I

is companion closely, as though to estimate the effect of his words, "of course, I knew that Lord Dredlinton ha

glanced at

esent you have not offered me any sufficient

to tell you that Lord Dredlinton had drawn money from the company to which he was not entitled, besides having overdrawn his sa

e said before that my husband's connection with your company is one which

present moment," Phipps

somewhat painfu

mean?" Joseph

ve been paying him four thousand a year, hoping that indirectly I was benefiting you. He has deceived me. I see no reason w

hat you will p

y n

irst time showed si

ou came to tell

sense,

s the a

nt in question is

o find it to save my

pps was

ed, "you have utterly and

ure about that

a moment that I came here to ask you to make

you come f

what you wished done, and to do it. I came to assure you of my sympathy; if you will

opose to help me?"

of no account may sometimes help a woman for whom he has a

ine said, "to place your ba

have put the matter so crudely. I came to express

in re

a little more toleration, if you would accept at any rate a measure of my friendship, would endeavour, m

e shook

ring my husband's honour and your banking account. I could not possibly accept these things from a person to whom

aimed almost angrily, "that I

ving that I was going to

e with a type of which he knew little. The woman who could refuse his millions, offered in such a manner, for him could have no real existe

to offer, if you would accept it, everything I po

e knock at the door, th

rose to her feet with

aimed, "to have a witness

which he had approached Josephine disappeared from his face. He confronted Phipps, who had also risen to his feet, as a right-livin

was hoping to see you this morning in the Ci

ach other?" Jos

quaintances,"

ood for us all. In whatever camp I find myself, I generally find Mr. Wingate in the opposite one. I

anding up for the last few

rivalry for the City

y to increase in size, to become more menacing, portentous. There was thunder upon his forehead. He seemed

ipps. I will think over all that you hav

f. He bowed low over her hand but cou

e a better counsel

after the unwelcome caller and they heard his heavy tread retreating down the

," she acknowledged, "bu

what

y desires to take advantage of that fact. My husband is not a reliable per

orry," Winga

d at him

ned?" she asked. "Y

f having met his enemy under such c

person I expected to find here was Peter Phipps. I for

not friends?"

terrible example of the evils of this age of restraint. In more primitive days we should have go

ine sh

red. "You sound to

Dredlinton, as I hope to call myself your friend, not to trust him, n

o more to do with him than the barest courtesy demands. To tell you the truth, your coming this afternoon was a littl

's eyes

ave heard him

ded him soothingly. "Remember that although we are a little older friends th

and I want to be your frien

ds friends as I do," Jos

that any one

he told her, his e

ecause there was always so much real misery around, and one felt that one was doi

ship. I have come over here with rather a desperate purpose. I think I can say that I have never known fe

e him h

aim. There, see how rapidly we have progressed! You have been here barely a

he assured her, "and

hom they had known together. The time slipped away. It was nearly seven

ing this evening

he answer

ou had better meet Henry, and, to proceed to the more selfish part of it all, I rat

nds and looked

do you think it needs an

intrusion of a new element into her life and thoughts and being. It was shining out of her eyes, something which made her a little afraid yet ridiculously light-hearted. S

nner coat will do unless you are going on so

meet Lord Dredlinton," Wingate mu