"Silas Angmering? Of course I do. Used to belong here. He cleared off to
America ages ago."

"He did. And you lent him a hundred pounds to help him to clear off to
America."

"Who told you?"

"He did," said Mr. Bishop, with a faint, mysterious smile.

"What's happened to him?"

"Oh! All sorts of things. He made a lot of money out of the war. He
established himself in Cincinnati. And there were opportunities...."

"How came he to tell you that I'd lent him anything?" Mr. Prohack
interrupted sharply.

"I had business with him at one time--before the war and also just after
the war began. Indeed I was in partnership with him." Mr. Bishop spoke
with a measured soothing calmness.

"And you say he's made a lot of money out of the war. What do you
mean--a lot?"

"Well," said Mr. Bishop, looking at the tablecloth through his
glittering spectacles, "I mean a _lot_."

His tone was confidential; but then his tone was always confidential.