ated
masculine boozom, but this, if it means anything at all, means secrecy,
and that is not your sex's strong point."

"That is a matter, Mr. Quorn," returned the count, "with which, as I
think, you need not concern yourself."

"That's all right," returned Mr. Quorn. "I merely mentioned it. It's no
affair of mine."

"Mr. Quorn," said the count, "has fifty thousand stand of arms to
sell. With them he has three million percussion-caps and three million
cartridges. His price for the whole is--" he paused there and waited,
looking towards the visitor.

"Forty thousand pounds sterling," said Mr. Quorn.

I interrupted the conversation at this point, asking when the cartridges
in question had been made. That was more than Mr. Quorn could say; but
I insisted upon an examination of their quality before any bargain with
respect to their purchase could be begun. No sportsman shoots with last
year's cartridges, and a man whose life depends upon his ammunition
should be at least as careful as a sportsman.

"Now," said Mr. Quorn, "I like this--this is business. This comes of
talking to an expert."

But all the same I could see that he was not over-pleased by my
interference at this point.

"We will leave that to your judgment, my dear Fyffe," said the count.
"But in the meantime Mr. Quorn desires to be satisfied of our ability
to purchase. You have consulted your lawyer, dear, and you know at what
time you will have control of your money--"

"On the twelfth of next month," said Violet. "I have a letter to that
effect. If this gentleman desires to see it I shall have great pleasure
in showing it to him."

"Thank you, miss," said Mr. Quorn. "I should feel satisfied if I could
see the document."

Violet left the room with a furtive smile on her lips, and in a minute
or so returned with the letter, which she handed to Mr. Quorn. He
drew from his coat-pocket a spectacle-case, and took from it a pair of
gold-rimmed spectacles. He breathed on these, and polished them with his
handkerchief, and then read the letter.

"Richardson & Bowdler," he said, tapping the paper with one bejewelled,
dirty finger, "Acre Building, Cheapside. No objection, I presoom, to
my calling on these gentlemen and ascertaining if this document is
genuine?"

"Sir," said the count, stiffly, "the whole matter is open to your
investigation. You will take any course which seems to you to be
justified by your own interests."

"That's above-board," said