place of amusement known as Empress Music Hall was simply but
clearly worded, and signed by "W. Peter"; also by two witnesses.

"That seems to be in order," Jacob admitted, "except that I always
thought Peter spelt his name 'Petre.'"

"Swank," Montague scoffed. "As a matter of fact, though, I thought so
myself until I saw the signature."

Jacob examined the letter from the solicitors. It was brief and
conclusive:

Dear Sir,

Re the Empress Music Hall. We have examined the undertaking
for the disposal of the above, signed by the owner and
addressed to you, and we find the same duly in order and a
legal document.

Faithfully,
Danesworthy & Bryan.

The third paper contained a list of the contributors. Mr. Montague
headed the list with twenty-five thousand pounds. The Marquis was down
for five thousand. The other names, ranging from three thousand to
five hundred, were all people of title, many of them relatives of the
Marquis.

"Sounds like a Court guide," Jacob remarked, passing it back.

"I have been privileged," the Marquis observed, stroking his
grey moustache, "as Mr. Montague has already told you, to place
his proposition before various members of my family. I have
found them, one and all, anxious to share in the profits of Mr.
Montague's--er--enterprise."

"When the purchase of the Empress Music Hall is concluded, what do you
propose to do with it?" Jacob enquired.

"Sell it to a company for a hundred and fifty thousand," Mr. Montague
answered, "and divide the profits of the sale amongst the contributors
according to their holding. The Marquis holds an agreement signed by
me to that effect."

"That is so," his lordship acquiesced.

Jacob was frankly puzzled.

"I don't understand, Mr. Montague, how you got that undertaking," he
confessed. "I saw an interview with Mr. Peter in the papers the other
day, in which he denied having sold the 'Empress' or even proposing to
do so."

"That's the commonest bluff going," the other pointed out. "Always
done. And see here, Pratt, this is the truth of the matter. The profit
or the loss on the sale of the 'Empress' wouldn't go into Peter's
pocket at all. It would go into the pockets of people with whom he is
at present on very bad terms. This sale does them in the eye. That's
the long and short of it."

"I see no reason," Jacob decided, after a few moments' consideration,
"why I should not