"Certainly I do, Mr. Ringsmith."

"Can you say off-hand what we made on that deal?"

"No," replied MacTavish cautiously, "but I do remember what we gave for
it, and what we sold it for. There were a lot of expenses on that deal."
There was a cunning look in MacTavish's eyes as he added the last words.

"Um, yes--what were the figures?"

"We gave L4,000, but it included those ormulu vases which Joyce sold for
us at Christie's. You remember we were wrong about those, and it took
some of the gilt off."

Ringsmith's heavy eyebrows met in a scowl.

"Well?" he said irritably.

"Whelan gave L7,500. He's a hard nut, you know."

"That'll do now, MacTavish. I want you to go and call at this place, have
a look at the pictures, and report."

* * * * *

Mr. MacTavish lost no time in calling at Mrs. Stillwell's house. She was
out, but had left a note for the gentleman from Mr. Ringsmith's, asking
him to look at the pictures, and expressing her regret that she could not
show them to him herself. She was quite unable, she said, to decide upon