ooked each at the other fixedly for, it must have
been, full a minute. Then he said, courteously: "What do you wish?"

I went straight to the point. My color may have been high, but my
voice did not hesitate as I explained: "I wish to make my wife
financially independent. I wish to settle on her a sum of money
sufficient to give her an income that will enable her to live as she
has been accustomed. I know she would not take it from me. So I have
come to ask you to pretend to give it to her--I, of course, giving it
to you to give."

Again we looked full and fixedly each at the other. "Come to the
house, Blacklock," he said at last in a tone that was the subtlest of
compliments. And he linked his arm in mine. Halfway to the rambling
stone house, severe in its lines, yet fine and homelike, quaintly
resembling its owner, as a man's house always should, he paused. "I
owe you an apology," said he. "After all my experience of this world
of envy and malice, I should have recognized the man even in the
caricatures of his enemies. And you brought the best possible
credentials--you are well hated. To be well hated by the human race
and by the creatures mounted on its back, is a distinction, sir. It is
the crown of the true kings of this world."

We seated ourselves on the wide veranda; he had champagne and water
brought, and cigars; and we proceeded to get acquainted--nothing
promotes cordiality and sympathy like an initial misunderstanding. It
was a good hour before this kind-hearted, hard-soft, typical
old-fashioned New Englander reverted to the object of my visit. Said
he: "And now, young man, may I venture to ask some extremely personal
questions?"

"In the circumstances," replied I, "you have the right to know
everything. I did not come to you without first making sure what
manner of man I was to find." At this he blushed, pleased as a girl at
her first beau's first compliment. "And you, Mr. Forrester, cannot be
expected to embark in the little adventure I propose, until you have
satisfied yourself."

"First, the why of your plan."

"I am in active business," replied I, "and I shall be still more
active. That means financial uncertainty."

His suspicion of me started up from its doze and rubbed its eyes. "Ah!
You wish to insure yourself."

"Yes," was my answer, "but not in the way you hint. It takes away a
man's courage just when he needs it most, to feel that his family is
involved in his venture."

The old man