onsense," said Browne, "you will
be kind enough to hand me the _pate de foie gras_. I remember so many
of your wonderful schemes, Jimmy, that I begin to think I know them all
by heart."

"In that case you must admit that the majority of them were based upon
very sound principles," replied Jimmy. "I remember there was one that
might have made a fortune for anybody. It was to be a matrimonial
registry for the upper ten, where intending Benedicts could apply for
particulars respecting their future wives. For instance, the Duke of
A----, being very desirous of marrying, and being also notoriously
impecunious, would call at the office and ask for a choice of American
heiresses possessing between five and ten millions. Photographs having
been submitted to him, and a guarantee as to the money given to him,
meetings between the parties could be arranged by the company, and a
small commission charged when the marriage was duly solemnized. Then
there was another scheme for educating the sons of millionaires in the
brands of cigars they should give their friends. For a small
commission, Viscount B----, who has smoked himself into the bankruptcy
court, would call at their residences three times a week, when he would
not only show them how to discriminate between a Trichinopoli and a
Burma Pwe, which is difficult to the uninitiated, but also between La
Intimidad Excelsos of '94 and Henry Clay Soberanos, which is much more
so."

"I remember yet another scheme," said Maas quietly, as he helped
himself to some caviare from a dish before him. "You told me once of a
scheme you were perfecting for forming a company to help long-sentenced
burglars of proved ability to escape from penal servitude, in order
that they should work for the society on the co-operative principle.
If my memory serves me, it was to be a most remunerative speculation.
The only flaw in it that I could see was the difficulty in arranging
the convict's escape, and the danger, that would accrue to those
helping him, in case they were discovered."

CHAPTER XX

Had a bombshell fallen through the skylight of the saloon and settled
itself in the centre of the table, it could scarcely have caused
greater consternation than did Maas's simple remark. Browne felt that
his face was visibly paling, and that guilt must be written on every
inch of it. As for Jimmy, his mouth opened and shut like that of an
expiring fish. He could scarcely believe he had heard