dear girl; but we cannot afford to live at such a rate as
two hundred pounds a month."

"I have entertained a great many people." This was said with a sullen
inflexion in her voice.

"So I see, Nell. But you need not have done so. We don't want such a lot
of visitors."

"It is all very well for you to talk like that, Jack, but you must
remember that I have to keep myself alive in this wretched place whilst
you are away."

Brabant turned his deep-set eyes upon her. "Did you find it so very dull
then, Nell?"

"Yes, I did. I hate the place, and hate the people, and so I suppose
I spent more of your money than I should have done had I been living
anywhere else."

"Don't say '_your_ money,' Nell. I am only too happy to know that I am
able to meet all these bills, heavy as they are; and I want you to enjoy
yourself as much as possible. But we cannot spend money at this rate, my
girl."

He spoke with a certain grave tenderness that only served to irritate
her.

"Am I to live here like the wife of one of the common shopkeepers on the
beach--see no one, go out nowhere?"

"As my wife, Nell, I expect you to go out a good deal, and see a lot of
people. It gives me pleasure to know that the people here like you, and
that you have given all these dances and things. But, Nell, my dear,
don't be so lavish. After all, I am only a trader, and it seems rather
absurd for us to spend more money than any one else does in the matter
of entertaining people who, after all, are merely acquaintances. You
see, Nell, I want to make money, make it as quickly as I can, so that we
can go home to the old country and settle down. But we can't do it if we
live at the rate of two hundred pounds a month."

"But if you amalgamate your business with that of Captain Danvers's
company, you will make L25,000."

"But I may not amalgamate with Captain Danvers's company, Nell. I am
quite satisfied that they can pay me the L25,000, but I am not satisfied
as to the _bond-fides_ of the company. Danvers himself admitted to me
that it is proposed to float the new company in London at a figure
which represents four times the value of my own and his own company's
properties. I don't like it, Nell. My business as it stands I could sell
to the Germans for L20,000, cash down. But I won't associate myself with
an enterprise that is not absolutely fair and square, for the sake of an
extra L5,000."

"I suppose Dr. Bruce has prejudiced you against Captain Danv