Office.

"I'm talking about railways," said Bones firmly. "Sir Augustus
Tibbetts--there, now I've said it!"

"Wonderful!" said the girl enthusiastically, and her eyes shone with
genuine pleasure. "I didn't see it in the newspaper, or I would have
congratulated you before."

Bones shifted uneasily.

"As a matter of fact, dear old miss," he said, "it has not been
gazetted yet. I'm merely speaking of the future, dear old impetuous
typewriter and future secretary to the Lynhaven Railway Company, and
possibly dear old Lady----" He stopped short with one of his audible
"tuts."

Happily she could not see the capital "L" to the word "Lady," and
missed the significance of Bones's interrupted speech.

He saw Mr. Harold Pyeburt at his office, and Mr. Harold Pyeburt had
seen the Right Hon. Parkinson Chenney, and the right honourable
gentleman had expressed his willingness to sell the railway, lock,
stock, and barrel, for sixty thousand pounds.

"And I advise you"--Mr. Pyeburt paused, as he thought of a better word
than "disinterestedly"--"as a friend, to jump at it. Parkinson Chenney
spoke in the highest terms of you. You evidently made a deep
impression upon him."

"Who is the jolly old Parkinson's agent?" asked Bones, and Mr. Harold
Pyeburt admitted without embarrassment that, as a matter of fact, he
was acting as Parkinson's attorney in this matter, and that was why he
had been so diffident in recommending the property. The audacity of
the latter statement passed unnoticed by Bones.

In the end Bones agreed to pay ten per cent. of the purchase price, the
remainder to be paid after a month's working of the line, if the deal
was approved.

"Clever idea of mine, dear old Ham," said Bones. "The Honours List
will be out in a month, and I can easily chuck it."

"That's about the eighth fellow who's paid a ten per cent. deposit,"
said Mr. Chenney to his agent. "I'll be almost sorry if he takes it."

Three weeks later there were two important happenings. The Prime
Minister of England, within an hour of leaving for the West of England
to take a well-earned rest, summoned to him his right-hand man.

"Chenney," he said, "I really must go away for this rest, and I'm
awfully sorry I cannot be on hand to meet the Chinese Commission. Now,
whatever you do, you will not fail to meet them at Charing Cross on
their arrival from the Continent. I believe they are leaving Paris
to-morrow."

"I shall be there," said Pa