vanced, holding out his hand.

"I hope we have known each other too many years, old fellow," he said,
"to bear any lasting ill-will for words spoken in the heat of anger or
disappointment, eh?"

He stood in front of the banker frankly holding out the hand of
forgiveness, his head a little on one side, that melancholy smile of
toleration for poor human weakness in his eyes.

"Well," admitted Turner, "we've certainly known each other a good many
years."

He somewhat laboriously hoisted himself up, his head emerging from his
tumbled collar like the head of a tortoise aroused from sleep, and gave
into Colville's affectionate grasp a limp and nerveless hand.

"No one could feel for you more sincerely than I do," Colville assured
him, drawing forward a chair,--"more than I have done all through these
trying months."

"Very kind, I'm sure," murmured Turner, looking drowsily at his friend's
necktie. One must look somewhere, and Turner always gazed at the necktie
of any one who sat straight in front of him, which usually induced
an uneasy fingering of that ornament and an early consultation of the
nearest mirror. "Have a cigar."

There was the faint suggestion of a twinkle beneath the banker's heavy
lids as Colville accepted this peace-offering. It was barely twenty-four
hours since he had himself launched in Colville's direction the rumour
which had brought about this reconciliation.

"And I'm sure," continued the other, turning to cut the end of the
cigar, "that no one would be better pleased to hear that better times
are coming--eh? What did you say?"

"Nothing. Didn't speak," was the reply to this vague interrogation.
Then they talked of other things. There was no lack of topics for
conversation at this time in France; indeed, the whole country was in a
buzz of talk. But Turner was not, it seemed, in a talkative mood. Only
once did he rouse himself to take more than a passing interest in the
subject touched upon by his easy-going companion.

"Yes," he admitted, "he may be the best cook in Paris, but he is not
what he was. It is this Revision of the Constitution which is upsetting
the whole country, especially the lower classes. The man's hand is
shaky. I can see it from his way of pouring the mayonnaise over a
salad."

After touching upon each fresh topic, Colville seemed to return
unconsciously to that which must of necessity be foremost in his
companion's thoughts--the possibility of saving Turner's bank from