for it was only on the previous day that he had
discovered her name--"a matter which requires tact and discretion,
young Marguerite----"

"You needn't say it twice," she said.

"Well once," said Bones, brightening up. "That's a bargain--I'll call
you Marguerite once a day. Now, dear old Marguerite, listen to this."

She listened with the greatest interest, jotting down the preliminary
expenses. Purchase of steamer, five thousand pounds; provisioning of
same, three thousand pounds, etc., etc. She even undertook to make a
copy of the plan which Mr. Dibbs had given into his charge, and which
Bones told her had not left him day nor night.

"I put it in my pyjama pocket when I went to bed," he explained
unnecessarily, "and----" He began to pat himself all over,
consternation in his face.

"And you left it in your pyjama pocket," said the girl quietly. "I'll
telephone to your house for it."

"Phew!" said Bones. "It seems incredible. I must have been robbed."

"I don't think so," said the girl; "it is probably under your pillow.
Do you keep your pyjamas under your pillow?"

"That," said Bones, "is a matter which I never discuss in public. I
hate to disappoint you, dear old Marguerite----"

"I'm sorry," said the girl, with such a simulation of regret that Bones
dissolved into a splutter of contrition.

A commissionaire and a taxicab brought the plan, which was discovered
where the girl in her wisdom had suggested.

"I'm not so sure how much money I'm going to make out of this," said
Bones off-handedly, after a thorough and searching examination of the
project. "It is certain to be about three thousand pounds--it may be a
million or two million. It'll be good for you, dear old stenographer."

She looked at him.

"I have decided," said Bones, playing with his paper-knife, "to allow
you a commission of seven and a half per cent. on all profits. Seven
and a half per cent. on two million is, roughly, fifty thousand
pounds----"

She laughed her refusal.

"I like to be fair," said Bones.

"You like to be generous," she corrected him, "and because I am a girl,
and pretty----"

"Oh, I say," protested Bones feebly--"oh, really you are not pretty at
all. I am not influenced by your perfectly horrible young face,
believe me, dear old Miss Marguerite. Now, I've a sense of fairness, a
sense of justice----"

"Now, listen to me, Mr. Tibbetts." She swung her chair round to face
him squarely. "I've got to