"I cannot say for certain, but our young friend's strange conduct seems
to suggest that he has smelt a rat, possibly even that Jackson, the old
beast, has shown him a rat--of a large Turkish breed."

Sir Robert nodded.

"Vernon is a fellow who doesn't like rats; they seem to haunt his
sleep," he said; "but do you think that having seen it, he will keep it
in the bag?"

"Oh! certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Haswell with cheerfulness;
"the man is the soul of honour; he will never give us away. Look how he
behaved about those shares. Still, I think that perhaps we are well rid
of him. Too much honour, like too much zeal, is a very dangerous quality
in any business."

"I don't know that I agree with you," answered Sir Robert. "I am not
sure that in the long run we should not do better for a little more of
the article. For my part, although it will not hurt us publicly, for the
thing will never be noticed, I am sorry that we have lost Vernon, very
sorry indeed. I don't think him a fool, and awkward as they may be, I
respect his qualities."

"So do I, so do I," answered Mr. Haswell, "and of course we have acted
against his advice throughout, which must have been annoying to him.
The scheme as he suggested it was a fair business proposition that might
have paid ten per cent. on a small capital, but what is the good of ten
per cent. to you and me? We want millions and we are going to get them.
Well, he is coming to The Court to-morrow, and perhaps after all we
shall be able to arrange matters. I'll give Barbara a hint; she has