e pleasure to come down and spend
a night at my little place, you'd learn more than you would if I talked
till morning. Very likely 'twouldn't touch your good self at all.
You might be--immune, ain't it? On the other hand, if this
influenza,--influence does happen to affect you, why, I think it will be
an experience."

While he talked he gave me his card, and I read his name was L. Maxwell
M'Leod, Esq., of Holmescroft. A City address was tucked away in a
corner.

"My business," he added, "used to be furs. If you are interested in
furs--I've given thirty years of my life to 'em."

"You're very kind," I murmured.

"Far from it, I assure you. I can meet you next Saturday afternoon
anywhere in London you choose to name, and I'll be only too happy to
motor you down. It ought to be a delightful run at this time of year the
rhododendrons will be out. I mean it. You don't know how truly I mean
it. Very probably--it won't affect you at all. And--I think I may say I
have the finest collection of narwhal tusks in the world. All the best
skins and horns have to go through London, and L. Maxwell M'Leod, he
knows where they come from, and where they go to. That's his business."

For the rest of the voyage up-channel Mr. M'Leod talked to me of the
assembling, preparation, and sale of the rarer furs; and told me things
about the manufacture of fur-lined coats which quite shocked me. Somehow
or other, when we landed on Wednesday, I found myself pledged to spend
that week-end with him at Holmescroft.

On Saturday he met me with a well-groomed motor, and ran me out, in an
hour and a half, to an exclusive residential district of dustless roads
and elegantly designed country villas, each standing in from three to
five acres of perfectly appointed land. He told me land was selling at
eight hundred pounds the acre, and the new golf links, whose Queen
Anne pavilion we passed, had cost nearly twenty-four thousand pounds to
create.

Holmescroft was a large, two-storied, low, creeper-covered residence.
A verandah at the south side gave on to a garden and two tennis courts,
separated by a tasteful iron fence from a most park-like meadow of five
or six acres, where two Jersey cows grazed. Tea was ready in the shade
of a promising copper beech, and I could see groups on the lawn of
young men and maidens appropriately clothed, playing lawn tennis in the
sunshine.

"A pretty scene, ain't it?" said Mr. M'Leod. "My good lady's sitting
under t