ianapolis, "here is a quarter's salary in advance."

From a pocket-book, he took a little brown paper envelope and from the
brown paper envelope counted out four five-pound notes, five golden
sovereigns, one half-sovereign, and ten shillings' worth of silver.
Soames' eyes glittered, delightedly.

"A little informal receipt?" smiled Gianapolis, raising his eyebrows,
satanically. "Here on this page of my notebook I have written: 'Received
from Mr. King for service rendered, 26 pounds, being payment, in
advance, of amount due on 31st October 19--' I have attached a stamp
to the page, as you will see," continued Gianapolis, "and here is a
fountain-pen. Just sign across the stamp, adding to-day's date."

Soames complied with willing alacrity; and Gianapolis having carefully
blotted the signature, replaced the notebook in his pocket, and politely
acknowledged the return of the fountain-pen. Soames, glancing furtively
about him, replaced the money in the envelope, and thrust the latter
carefully into a trouser pocket.

"Now," resumed Gianapolis, "we must not permit our affairs of business
to interfere with our amusements."

He stepped up to the bar and ordered two more whiskies with soda. These
being sampled, business was resumed.

"To-morrow," said Gianapolis, leaning forward across the table so that
his face almost touched that of his companion, "you will be entrusted by
Mr. Leroux with a commission."...

Soames nodded eagerly, his eyes upon the speaker's face.

"You will accompany Mrs. Leroux to the bank," continued Gianapolis, "in
order that she may write a specimen signature, in the presence of the
manager, for transmission to the Credit Lyonnais in Paris."...

Soames nearly closed his little eyes in his effort to comprehend.

"A draft in her favor," continued the Greek, "has been purchased by
Mr. Leroux's bank from the Paris bank, and, on presentation of this, a
checkbook will be issued to Mrs. Leroux by the Credit Lyonnais in Paris
to enable her to draw at her convenience upon that establishment against
the said order. Do you follow me?"

Soames nodded rapidly, eager to exhibit an intelligent grasp of the
situation.

"Now"--Gianapolis lowered his voice impressively--"no one at the Charing
Cross branch of the London County and Suburban Bank has ever seen Mrs.
Leroux!--Oh! we have been careful of that, and we shall be careful in
the future. You are known already as an accredited agent of Leroux;
therefore"--