d her master. "But 'twon't be the same
arrand this time, as it happens: so you're wrong for once."

Fancy, if she heard, did not answer, for 'Bias by this time had reached
the landing without. She opened to him. "Good afternoon, sir."

"Afternoon, missy. I saw your father in the shop, and he told me to
walk up. Mr Rogers disengaged?"

"Ay, Cap'n--walk in, walk in!" said Mr Rogers from his chair.
What is it to-day? Business? or just a pipe and a chat?"

"Well, it's business," allowed 'Bias with a glance at the girl.
"But I'll light a pipe over it, if you don't mind."

"And I'll fit and make tea for you both," said Fancy. "It's near about
time."

She vanished and closed the door behind her. 'Bias found a chair,
seated himself, and filled his pipe very slowly and thoughtfully.
Mr Rogers waited.

"The business that brings me--" 'Bias paused, struck a match and lit
up--"ain't quite the ordinary business."

"No?"

"No." For a few seconds 'Bias appeared to be musing. "In fact you
might call it a--a sort o' flutter. That's the word--ain't it?--when
you take a bit o' money and play venturesome with it, against your usual
habits."

"Ay?" Mr Rogers looked at him sharply. "When I say venturesome,"
continued 'Bias, "you'll understand I don't mean foolhardy. . . .
Nothin' o' the sort. I want to hear o' something tolerably safe, into
which a man might put a small sum he happened to have lyin' about."

"What sort of investment?"

"Ay, that's just what I want you to tell me. Ten per cent, we'll say,
an' no more'n a moderate risk. . . . I reckoned as a man like you might
know, maybe, o' half a dozen things o' the sort."

"What's the amount?" Mr Rogers's eyes, that had opened wide for a
moment, narrowed themselves upon him in a curiosity that hid some
humour.

"Put it at a hundred pound."

"Oh!--er--I mean, is that all?"

"You see," exclaimed 'Bias. "You mustn' run away wi' the notion that I
ain't satisfied as things are. Four and five per cent--and that's what
you get for me--does best in the main. I can live within the income and
sleep o' nights. But once in a way--"

"Ay," interrupted Mr Rogers, "and more especially when _it's to oblige a
friend_."

'Bias withdrew the pipe from his mouth and stared. "You're a clever
one, too! . . . Well, and I don't mind you're knowin'. 'Tis a relief,
in a way: for now you know I'm pleased enough with your dealins' on my
own account."

"Thank 'ee. I'm no