"He's off to Canada. I thought he would have wired you."

"That's just like Clifford!" There was an angry sharpness in the voice
over the wire.

"I reckon he was in too much of a hurry. It's in connexion with the
Hudson Bay scheme--you know about that?"

"Yes. Has anything gone wrong with it?" Now there was anxiety in the
voice.

"A new situation has arisen. Your husband suggested to me that he had
better hurry across the pond and straighten up matters." Larssen lowered
his voice. "Somebody in the Canadian Government wants oiling. Of course
he will have to work the affair very quietly."

"It's too annoying! Clifford had promised me faithfully to come on to
Monte by to-night's train. I wanted him here."

"That's rough on you!"

"What message did you wish to give to my father?"

"About the Hudson Bay deal. I want to meet Sir Francis and talk
business."

"You're not going to drag him back to Paris!"

Again there was annoyance in her voice, and Lars Larssen made a quick