"I suppose," he said presently, "this affair has about as little
risk as anything one could put money in?"

"I should say," Godfrey answered, with his man-of-business air,
"that the element of risk is non-existent. What can be more solid
than jam? There's competition to be sure; but Applegarth is already
a good name throughout England, and in the West they swear by it. At
Bristol, Exeter, Dorchester--all over there--Applegarth holds
the field. Very seriously speaking, I see in this proposal nothing
but sure and increasing gain."

"You know as well as I do," Will resumed, "how I stand. I have no
resources of my own beyond what you are aware of. But I've been
thinking--"

He broke off, stared at the window, drummed on the arm of his chair,
Sherwood waiting with a patient smile.

"It's my mother and sister I have in mind," Will resumed. "That
property of theirs; it brings them about a hundred and fifty pounds
a year in cash, and three times that in worry. At any moment they
might sell. A man at St. Neots offers four thousand pounds; I
suspect more might be got if Turnbull, their lawyer, took the matter
in hand. Suppose I advise them to sell and put the money in
Applegarth?"

"By Jove!" cried Sherwood. "How could they do better? Splendid
idea!"

"Yes--if all goes well. Bear in mind, on the other hand, that if