he moon. And there certainly is oil in
Trinidad."

"What about the others?"

"Lady Powers," Jacob confessed, "has shown a flattering desire for my
escort to dinner; in fact, I am afraid I am committed to next Sunday
night. It appears that she is in some slight financial trouble and
requires the advice of a man of the world."

"Hm!" Dauncey ejaculated. "What does Miss Bultiwell say to that?"

"I don't think she knows," Jacob admitted, "but I am afraid she
wouldn't care if she did. Grace Powers pretends to want to be very
secretive about it, but I fancy that's only to spare my feelings."

"Any other members of the gang?" Dauncey enquired.

"There's that young sprig of fashion, Lord Felixstowe," Jacob replied.
"I haven't heard from him yet. He is rather a nice boy. And there is
Miss Bultiwell herself."

"Have you had any conversation with her?"

"She is lunching with me to-day. I expect I shall get into trouble
about it, but I am going to speak to her plainly about her friends."

"How did she get mixed up with such a crew?"

"She was at school with Grace Powers," Jacob answered, "but I don't
know how they came together again. She will either tell me this
morning--or she won't."

"And Lord Felixstowe?"

There was a knock at the door. The office boy brought in a card. Jacob
glanced at it and smiled.

"His turn appears to have arrived," he said. "You can show Lord
Felixstowe in."

Dauncey departed, and the visitor entered and proceeded to make
himself at home. Notwithstanding a slightly receding chin and a
somewhat weedy frame, he was a personable being, and Jacob stifled a
sigh of envy as he realised that he would never be able to wear a
Guards' tie with his lounge suit. The young man accepted a cigarette.
His attitude was distinctly friendly.

"Thought I'd look you up, old thing," he said. "Not much chance of a
powwow at Russell Square. As soon as you and I get a word together,
that chap Hartwell comes butting in, or else Phil Mason has a bundle
of prospectuses to show you. What-ho the giddy night club! What-ho the
Trinidad Oil Wells!"

Jacob coughed.

"There is one thing about Russell Square which puzzles me," he
confided, "and that is, except for the people you have mentioned, I
seem to be the only pupil."

Lord Felixstowe smiled knowingly.

"They've got a few old crooks come later in the day," he said. "The
reason you don't meet any one else there is because they like to keep
you to themselves.