d without any wound to her feelings.

"Don't you think to-morrow would do for the cheque?" she asked.

"Certainly, certainly," said Bones. "Why not? To-morrow's Friday,
ain't it?"

She inclined her head and walked out of the room, and Bones cleared his
throat once more.

"Bones----"

The young man turned to meet Hamilton's accusing eye.

"Bones," said Hamilton gently, "who is the lady?"

"Who is the lady?" repeated Bones, with a cough. "The lady is my
secretary, dear old inquisitor."

"So I gather," said Hamilton.

"She is my secretary," repeated Bones. "An extremely sensible young
woman, extremely sensible."

"Don't be silly," said Hamilton. "Plenty of people are sensible. When
you talk about sensible young women, you mean plain young women."

"That's true," said Bones; "I never thought of that. What a naughty
old mind you have, Ham."

He seemed inclined to change the subject.

"And now, dear old son," said Bones, with a brisk return to his
what-can-I-do-for-you air, "to business! You've come, dear old thing,
to consult me."

"You're surprisingly right," said Hamilton.

"Well," said Bones, trying three drawers of his desk before he could
find one that opened, "have a cigar, and let us talk."

Hamilton took the proffered weed and eyed it suspiciously.

"Is this one that was given to you, or one that you bought?" he
demanded.

"That, my jolly old officer," said Bones, "is part of a job lot that I
bought pretty cheap. I've got a rare nose for a bargain----"

"Have you a rare nose for a cigar, that's the point?" asked Hamilton,
as he cut off the end and lit it gingerly.

"Would I give you a bad cigar?" asked the indignant Bones. "A gallant
old returned warrior, comrade of my youth, and all that sort of thing!
My dear old Ham!"

"I'll tell you in a minute," said Hamilton, and took two draws.

Bones, who was no cigar smoker, watched the proceedings anxiously.
Hamilton put the cigar down very gently on the corner of the desk.

"Do you mind if I finish this when nobody's looking?" he asked.

"Isn't it all right?" asked Bones. "Gracious heavens! I paid fifty
shillings a hundred for those! Don't say I've been done."

"I don't see how you could be done at that price," said Hamilton, and
brushed the cigar gently into the fireplace. "Yes, I have come to
consult you, Bones," he went on. "Do you remember some eight months
ago I wrote to you telling you that I had been offered shares in a