morning paper which he had been reading.

Sir John smiled grimly. He hoped that Jack was right.

"Well," he added, "let us call it a difference of opinion."

"Yes."

Something in the monosyllable made the old gentleman's lips twitch
nervously.

"I may mention," he said, with a dangerous suavity, "that I still
hold to my opinion."

Jack Meredith rose, without haste. This, like the interview of the
previous night, was conducted upon strictly high-bred and
gentlemanly lines.

"And I to mine," he said. "That is why I took the liberty of
calling at this early hour. I thought that perhaps we might effect
some sort of a compromise."

"It is very good of you to make the proposal." Sir John kept his
fingers away from his lips by an obvious exercise of self-control.
"I am not partial to compromises: they savour of commerce."

Jack gave a queer, curt nod, and moved towards the door. Sir John
extended his unsteady hand and rang the bell.

"Good-morning," he said.