THEbattlewasover，andthevictorremainedonthefield——sittingalonewiththehurly-burlyofhisthoughts。
Histriumphwassosweepingandcomprehensiveastobesomewhatshapelesstotheview。Hehadasenseoffascinatedpainwhenhetriedtodefinetohimselfwhatitslimitswouldprobablybe。Vistasofunchecked，expandingconqueststretchedawayineverydirection。
Heheldathismercyeverythingwithinsight。Indeed，itrestedentirelywithhimtosaywhetherthereshouldbeanysuchthingasmercyatall——anduntilhechosetouttertherestrainingwordtheroutofthevanquishedwouldgoonwithmultiplyingterrorsandruin。Hecouldcrushandtortureanddespoilhisenemiesuntilhewastired。
Theresponsibilityofhavingtodecidewhenhewouldstopgrindingtheirfacesmightcometoweighuponhimlateron，buthewouldnotgiveitroominhismindto-night。
Apictureofthesefacesofhisvictimsshapeditselfoutoftheflamesinthegrate。Theyweremouldedinafamilylikeness，thesephantomvisages：theywereallJewish，allmalignant，alldistortedwithfright。
Theyimploredhimwitheyesinwhichpanicasserteditselfaboverageandcunning。Onlyhereandtheredidherecallanamewithwhichtolabeloneofthesecountenances；
veryfewofthemraisedamemoryofindividualrancour。
Thefaceswerethoseofmenhehadseen，nodoubt，buttheirpersecutionofhimhadbeenimpersonal；
hisgreatrevengewasequallyso。Ashelooked，intruth，therewasonlyoneface——acompositemaskofwhathehaddonebattlewith，andoverthrown，andwouldtrampleimplacablyunderfoot。Hestaredwithaconqueror'scoldfrownatit，andgaveanabruptlaughwhichstartedharshechoesinthestillnessoftheBoardRoom。Thenheshookoffthereverie，andgottohisfeet。Heshiveredalittleatthesuddentouchofachill。
Abottleofbrandy，surroundedbyglasses，stoodonthetablewherethetwoleast-consideredofhislieutenants，thedummyDirectors，hadleftit。Hepouredasmallquantityandsippedit。Duringthewholeeventfuldayithadnotoccurredtohimbeforetodrink；thetasteoftheneatliquorseemedontheinstanttocalmandrefreshhisbrain。
Withmoredeliberation，hetookacigarfromthebroad，floridly-decoratedopenboxbesidethebottle，litit，andblewalongdraughtofsmokethoughtfullythroughhisnostrils。Thenheputhishandsinhispockets，lookedagainintothefire，andsighedawonderingsmile。
Godinheaven！itwasactuallytrue！
Thismanoffortyfoundhimselfflutteringwithanovelexhilaration，whichyetwasnotnovel。Uponreflection，heperceivedthathefeltasifhewereaboyagain——aboyexcitedbypleasure。Itsurprisedasmuchasitdelightedhimtoexperiencethisfrankanddirectjoyofachild。Hecaughttheinklingofanideathatperhapshisyearswereanillusion。Hehadlatterlybeenthinkingofhimselfasmiddle-aged；thegreyhairsthickeningathistempleshadvaguelydepressedhim。
Nowallatoncehesawthathewasnotoldatall。
Thebuoyancyofveritableyouthbubbledinhisveins。
Hebeganwalkingupanddowntheroom，regardingnewhalcyonvisionswithasparklingeye。Hewasnolongerconsciousofthehatedfoebeneathhisfeet；theytrodinsteadelasticupontheclouds。
Thesoundofsomeonemovingaboutinthehallwayoutside，andoftryingadoornearby，suddenlycaughthisattention。
Hestoodstillandlistenedwithalertnessforasurprisedinstant，thenshruggedhisshouldersandbeganmovingagain。
Itmustbenearlyseveno'clock；althoughtheallotmentworkhadkepttheclerkslaterthanusualthatday，everybodyconnectedwiththeofficeshadcertainlygonehome。
Herealizedthathisnerveshadplayedhimatrickingivingthatalarmedmomentarystart——andsmiledalmosttenderlyasherememberedhownotableandevengloriousawarrantthosenerveshadfortheirunsettledstate。
Theywouldbeallrightafteranight'srealrest。
HewouldknowhowtosleepNOW，thankGod！
Butyes——therewassomebodyoutside——andthistimeknockingwithassuranceattherightdoor，theentrancetotheouteroffice。Afterasecond'sconsideration，hewentintothisunlightedouteroffice，andcalledoutthroughtheopaqueglassanenquiry。Thesoundofhisvoice，asitanalyzeditselfinhisownears，seemedundulyperemptory。Theanswerwhichcamebackbroughtaflashofwondermenttohiseyes。Hehurriedlyunlockedandopenedthedoor。
"IsawthelightsinwhatImadeouttobetheBoardRoom，"
saidthenewcomer，asheentered。"Iassumeditmustbeyou。
HopeIdon'tinterruptanything。"
"Nothingcouldhavegivenmegreaterpleasure，LordPlowden，"
repliedtheother，leadingthewaybacktotheinnerapartment。
"Infact，Icouldn'thaveaskedanythingbetter。"
Thetoneofhisvoicehadacertainanxiousnoteinitnotquiteinharmonywiththisdeclaration。Heturned，underthedrop-lightoverhangingtheBoard-table，andshookhandswithhisguest，asiftoatoneforthisdoubtfulaccent。
"Ishakehandswithyouagain，"hesaid，speakingrapidly，"becausethisafternoonitwaswhatyoumaycallformal；
itdidn'tcount。And——myGod！——you'rethemanIoweitallto。"
"Oh，youmustn'tgoasfarasthat——evenintheabsenceofwitnesses，"repliedLordPlowden，lightly。"I'lltakeoffmycoatforafewminutes，"hewenton，verymuchathisease。"It'shotinhere。It'sbythemerestchanceIhappenedtobedetainedintheCity——andIsawyourlights，andthisafternoonwehadnoopportunitywhateverforaquiettalk。No——Iwon'tdrinkanythingbeforedinner，butI'lllightacigar。Iwanttosaytoyou，Thorpe，"heconcluded，asheseatedhimself"thatIthinkwhatyou'vedoneisverywonderful。
TheMarquisthinkssotoo——butIshouldn'tliketoswearthatheunderstandsmuchaboutit。"
Theimplicationthatthespeakerdidunderstandremainedintheairlikeatangibleobject。Thorpetookachair，andthetwomenexchangedasilent，intentlook。
Theirfaces，duskyredonthesideoftheglowfromthefire，pallidwheretheelectriclightfellslantwiseuponthemfromabove，hadforamomentamysterioussomethingincommon。Thenthetensionoftheglancewasrelaxed——andontheinstantnotwomeninLondonlookedlessalike。
LordPlowdenwasfamiliarlyspokenofasahandsomeman。
ThorpehadevenheardhimcalledthehandsomestmaninEngland——thoughthisseemedinalllikelihoodanexaggeration。
Buthandsomeheundoubtedlywas——tallwithoutsuggestingthethoughtofheighttotheobserver，erectyetgraceful，powerfullybuilt，whilepreservingtheeffectofslenderness。
Hisfaceinreposehadtheoutlineofthemoreyouthfulguardsman-type——regular，finely-cut，impassivetohardness。
Whenhetalked，orfollowedwithinterestthetalkofothers，itrevealedalmostanexcessofanimation。
Thenonenotedtheflashingsubtletyofhisglance，theswiftfacilityofhissmileandcomprehendingbrows，andsawthatitwasnottheguardsmanfaceatall。
Hisskinwasfresh-hued，andtherewasashadeofwarmbrowninhissmall，well-orderedmoustasche，buthishair，wavyandwornlongerthanthefashion，seemedblack。
Therewereperceptibleveinsofgreyinit，thoughhehadonlyenteredhisthirty-fifthyear。Hewasdressedhabituallywiththeutmostpossiblecare。
Thecontrastbetweenthispersonageandtheoldermanconfrontinghimwasabrupt。Thorpewasalsotall，butofaburlyandslouchingfigure。Hisface，shroudedinahigh-growing，dust-colouredbeard，invitednoattention。Oneseemedalwaystohaveknownthisface——thick-featured，immobile，undistinguished。
Itsaccessoriesforthetimebeingwereevenmorethanordinarilyunimpressive。Bothhairandbeardwereraggedwithneglect。Hiscommonplace，darkclotheslookedasifhehadsleptinthem。Thehandsrestingonhisbigkneeswerecoarseinshape，androughened，andill-kept。
"Icouldn'thaveaskedanythingbetterthanyourdroppingin，"herepeatednow，speakingwithadrag，asofcaution，onhiswords。"Witnessesornowitnesses，I'manxioustohaveyouunderstandthatIrealizewhatIowetoyou。"
"Ionlywishitwereagreatdealmorethanitis，"
repliedtheother，withafranksmile。
"Oh，it'llmountuptoconsiderable，asitstands，"
saidThorpe。
Hecouldhearthattherewasakindofreservationinhisvoice；thesuspicionthathiscompaniondetecteditembarrassedhim。Hefoundhimselfinthepositionoffencingwithamantowhomallhisfeelingsimpelledhimtobeperfectlyopen。Hepaused，andwasawkwardlyconsciousofconstraintinthesilencewhichensued。
"Youareverykindtoputitinthatway，"saidLordPlowden，atlast。Heseemedalsotobefindingwordsforhisthoughtswithacertaindifficulty。Heturnedhiscigarroundinhiswhitefingersmeditatively。"Igatherthatyoursuccesshasbeencomplete——ascompleteasyouyourselfcouldhavedesired。Icongratulateyouwithallmyheart。"
"No——don'tsaymysuccess——sayoursuccess，"putinThorpe。
"But，mydearman，"theothercorrectedhim，"myinterest，comparedwithyours，ishardlymorethannominal。
I'maDirector，ofcourse，andI'mnotdispleasedthatmyfewsharesshouldbeworthsomethinginsteadofnothing，but——"
Thorpeliftedoneofhisheavyhands。"Thatisn'tmyviewofthethingatall。Tobefrank，Iwasturningoverinmymind，justawhileago，beforeyoucamein，somewayofarrangingallthatonadifferentfooting。
Ifyou'lltrustittome，Ithinkyou'llfindit'sallright。"
SomethingintheformofthisremarkseemedtorestoretoLordPlowdenhisaccustomedfluencyofspeech。
"Icameheretosaypreciselythatthing，"hebegan——"thatIdotrustittoyou。Wehaveneverhadanyverydefinitetalkonthesubject——andpraydon'tthinkthatIwanttogointodetailsnow。I'dmuchrathernot，infact。
ButwhatIdowanttosaytoyouisthis：Ibelieveinyou。Ifeelsurethatyouaregoingtogofar，asthesayingis。Well，Iwanttotiemyselftoyourstar。
DoyouseewhatImean？Youaregoingtobeapowerinfinance。Youaregoingtobeabletomakeandunmakemenasyouchoose。Ishouldbeverymuchobligedindeedifyouwouldmakeme。"
Thorperegardedthehandsomeandtitledmanoffashionwithwhatseemedtotheotheralethargicgaze。Intruth，hismindwastoilingwithstrenuousactivitytomaster，inallitsbearings，thesignificanceofwhathadbeensaid。
Thishabitoftheabstractedandlack-lustreeye，thewhilehewashardatworkthinking，wasafortuitousassetwhichhehadneveruptothattimelearnedthathepossessed。Unconsciously，hedampenedthespiritsofhiscompanion。
"Don'timagineI'mtryingtoforcemyselfuponyou，"
LordPlowdensaid，growingcoolinthefaceofthisslowstare。
"I'maskingnothingatall。Ihadtheimpulsetocomeandsaytoyouthatyouareagreatman，andthatyou'vedoneagreatthing——anddoneit，moreover，inaverygreatway。"
"Youknowhowitwasdone！"ThewonderingexclamationforceditselffromThorpe'sunreadylips。Hebentforwardalittle，andtookanewvisualhold，asitwere，ofhiscompanion'scountenance。
LordPlowdensmiled。"DidyouthinkIwassuchahopelessduffer，then？"herejoined。
Foranswer，Thorpeleantbackinhischair，crossedhislegs，andpattedhiskneecontentedly。Allatoncehisfacehadlightened；agenialspeculationreturnedtohisgreyeyes。
"Well，Iwasinacuriouspositionaboutyou，yousee，"
hebegantoexplain。Thereliefwithwhichhespokewaspalpable。"Icouldnotforthelifeofmemakeupmymindwhethertotellyouaboutitornot。Let'ssee——thisisThursday；didIseeyouTuesday？Atanyrate，theschemedidn'tdawnonmemyselfuntiltowardeveningTuesday。
Butyesterday，ofcourse，Icouldhavetoldyou——andagainthisafternoon——but，asIsay，Icouldn'tmakeupmymind。
OnceIhaditonthetipofmytongue——butsomehowIdidn't。
Andyou——younevergavemeahintthatyousawwhatwasgoingon。"
AgainLordPlowdensmiled。"Ivotedwithyou，"heputinsoftly。
Thorpelaughed，andrelithiscigar。"Well，Icouldn'thaveaskedanythingbetterthanthis，"hedeclaredonceagain。
"Itbeatsalltherestputtogether，tomymind。"
"PerhapsIdon'tquitefollowyourmeaning，"commentedtheothertentatively。
"Whyman，"Thorpeexplained，hesitatingalittleinhischoiceofwords，butspeakingwithevidentfervour；
"Iwasmoreanxiousaboutyou——andthewayyou'dtakeit——
thanaboutanythingelse。IgiveyoumywordIwas。
Icouldn'ttellatallhowyou'dfeelaboutthething。
Youmightthinkthatitwasallright，andthenagainyoumightroundonme——orno，Idon'tmeanquitethat——
butyoumightsayitwasn'tgoodenoughforyou，andwashyourhandsofthewholeaffair。AndIcan'ttellyouwhatareliefitistofindthatyou——thatyou'resatisfied。
NowIcangoahead。"
"Ah，yes——ahead，"saidtheyoungerman，thoughtfully。
"Doyoumindtellingme——youseeI'mquiteinthedarkastodetails——howmuchfurtheraheadwearelikelytogo？Icomprehendthegeneralnatureofouradvance——
buthowfaroffisthegoalyouhaveinsight？"
"Godknows！"answeredThorpe，witharisingthrillofexcitementinhisvoice。"Idon'tgiveitanylimit。
Idon'tseewhyweshouldstopatall。We'vegottheminsuchapositionthat——why，goodheavens！wecansqueezethemtodeath，crushthemlikequartz。"
Hechuckledgrimlyatthesuggestionofhissimile。
"We'llgetmoreouncestothetonoutofourcrushingsthantheyeverheardofontheRand，too。"
"MightIask，"interposedtheother，"whomay'they'be？"
Thorpehesitated，andknittedhisbrowsintheefforttoremembernames。"Oh，therearealotofthem，"
hesaid，vaguely。"IthinkItoldyouofthewaythatKaffircrowdpretendedtothinkwellofme，andletmebelievetheyweregoingtotakemeup，andthen，becauseIwouldn'tgivethemeverything——theveryshirtoffmyback——turnedandputtheirknifeintome。
Idon'tknowthemapart，hardly——they'veallgotnameslikeRhinewines——butIknowthegangasawhole，andifI
don'tlifttheroofcleanofftheirparticularsynagogue，thenmynameismud。"
LordPlowdensmiled。"I'vealwaysthegreatestdifficultytorememberthatyouareanEnglishman——aLondonerborn，"
hedeclaredpleasantly。"Youdon'ttalkintheleastlikeone。OnshipboardImadesureyouwereanAmerican——averycharacteristicone，Ithought——ofsomecuriousWesternvariety，youknow。Ineverwasmoresurprisedinmylifethanwhenyoutoldme，theotherday，thatyouonlyleftEnglandafewyearsago。"
"Oh，hardlya'fewyears'；morelikefifteen，"Thorpecorrectedhim。Hestudiedhiscompanion'sfacewithslowdeliberation。
"I'mgoingtosaysomethingthatyoumustn'ttakeamiss，"
heremarked，afteralittlepause。"Ifyou'dknownthatI
wasanEnglishman，whenwefirstmet，thereonthesteamer，Ikindo'suspectthatyouandI'dneverhavegotmuchbeyondanoddingacquaintance——andeventhatmostlyonmyside。
Idon'tmeanthatIintendedtoconcealanything——thatis，notspecially——butI'veoftenthoughtsincethatitwasamightygoodthingIdid。Nowisn'tthattrue——thatifyouhadtakenmeforoneofyourowncountrymenyou'dhavegivenmethecoldshoulder？"
"Idaresaythere'sagooddealinwhatyousay，"
theotheradmitted，gentlyenough，butwithoutcontrition。
"Thingsnaturallyshapethemselvesthatway，rather，youknow。Iftheydidn't，whythenthewholepositionwouldbecomedifficult。ButyouareanAmerican，toallintentsandpurposes。"
"Oh，no——Inevertookanysteptowardsgettingnaturalized，"
Thorpeprotested。"Ialwaysintendedtocomebackhere。
Orno，Iwon'tsaythat——becausemostofthetimeI
wasdog-poor——andthisisn'ttheplaceforapoorman。
ButIalwayssaidtomyselfthatifeverIpulleditoff——ifIeverfoundmyselfarichman——THENI'dcomepikingacrosstheAtlanticasfastastriple-expansionengineswouldcarryme。"
Theyoungmansmiledagain，withawhimsicalgleaminhiseye。"AndyouAREarichman，now，"heobserved，afteramomentarypause。
"Wearebothrichmen，"repliedThorpe，gravely。
Heheldupadissuadinghand，astheotherwouldhavespoken。
"Thisishowitseemstomethethingfiguresitselfout：
Itcan'tbesaidthatyournameontheBoard，ortheMarquis'seither，wasofmuchusesofarasthepublicwereconcerned。Totellthetruth，Isawsometimeagothattheywouldn'tbe。TitlesonprospectusesareplayedoutinLondon。I'veratheranotion，indeed，thatthey'reapttodomoreharmthangood——justatpresent，atleast。
Butallthataside——youarethemanwhowasciviltomeatthestart，whenyouknewnothingwhateveraboutmyscheme，andyouarethemanwhowasgoodtomelateron，whenIdidn'tknowwheretoturnforafriendlyword。
Verywell；hereIam！I'vemademycoup！AndI'dbeasweep，wouldn'tI？toforgetto-daywhatIwassogladtorememberaweekago。Butyousee，Idon'tforget！ThecapitaloftheCompanyis500，000pounds，allinpoundshares。
Weofferedthepubliconlyafifthofthem。Theotherfourhundredthousandsharesaremineasvendor——andI
haveear-markedinmymindonehundredthousandofthemtobeyours。"
LordPlowden'sfacepaledatthesignificanceofthesewords。
"Itistoomuch——youdon'treflectwhatitisyouaresaying，"hemurmuredconfusedly。"Notabitofit，"
theotherreassuredhim。"EverythingthatI'vesaidgoes。"
Thepeer，tremblingalittle，rosetohisfeet。"Itisapreposterouslybigrewardforthemerestactofcourtesy，"
heinsisted。"Ofcourseittakesmybreathawayforjoy——andyetIfeelIoughtn'ttobeconsentingtoitatall。
Andithasitsunpleasantside——itburiesmeunderamountainofobligation。Idon'tknowwhattodoorwhattosay。"
"Well，leavethesayinganddoingtome，then，"repliedThorpe，withagesturebeforewhichtheotherresumedhisseat。
"Justawordmore——andthenIsupposewe'dbetterbegoing。
Lookatitinthisway。YourgrandfatherwasLordChancellorofEngland，andyourfatherwasaGeneralintheCrimea。Mygrandfatherkeptasmallsecond-handbook-shop，andmyfatherfollowedhiminthebusiness。
Inonesense，thatputsustenthousandmilesapart。
Butinanothersense，we'llsaythatwelikeeachother，andthattherearewaysinwhichwecanbeofimmenseusetoeachother，andthatbringsusclosetogether。
Youneedmoney——andhereitisforyou。Ineed——whatshallIsay？——akindoffriendlyleadinthematterofestablishingmyselfontherightfooting，amongtherightpeople——andthat'swhatyoucandoforme。
Mind——I'dprefertoputitallinquiteanotherway；
I'dliketosayitwasallnicenessonyourpart，allgratitudeonmine。Butifyouwanttoconsideritonabusinessbasis——whythereyouhaveitalso——perfectlyplainandclear。"
Hegotupashefinished，andLordPlowdenroseaswell。
Thetwomenshookhandsinsilence。
Whenthelatterspoke，itwastosay："Doyouknowhowtoopenoneofthosesoda-waterbottles？I'vetried，butIcannevergetthetrick。IthinkIshouldliketohaveadrink——afterthis。"
Whentheyhadputdowntheirglasses，andtheyoungermanwasgettingintohisgreat-coat，Thorpebestowedthebrandyandcigarswithinacabinetatthecorneroftheroom，andcarefullyturnedakeyuponthem。
"Ifyou'regoingWest，letmegiveyoualift，"
saidLordPlowden，hatinhand。"Icansetyoudownwhereveryoulike。UnfortunatelyI'vetogoouttodinner，andImustrace，asitis，togetdressed。"
Thorpeshookhishead。"No，goalong，"hebadehim。
"I'vesomeoddsandendsofthingstodoontheway。"
"ThenwhenshallIseeyou？"——begantheother，andhaltedsuddenlywithanewthoughtinhisglance。"ButwhatareyoudoingSaturday？"heasked，inabriskertone。
"It'sadiesnonhere。Comedownwithmeto-morrowevening，tomyplaceinKent。WewillshootonSaturday，anddriveaboutonSunday，ifyoulike——andtherewecantalkatourleisure。Yes，thatiswhatyoumustdo。
Ihaveagunforyou。Shallwesay，then——CharingCrossat9：55？Orbetterstill，say5：15，andwewilldineathome。"
Theeldermanponderedhisanswer——frowningattheproblembeforehimwithvisibleanxiety。"I'mafraidI'dbetternotcome——it'sverygoodofyouallthesame。"
"Nonsense，"retortedtheother。"Mymotherwillbeverygladindeedtoseeyou。Thereisnooneelsethere——unless，perhaps，mysisterhassomefrienddown。
Weshallmakeapurelyfamilyparty。"
Thorpehesitatedforonlyafurthersecond。"Allright。
CharingCross，5：15，"hesaidthen，withthegravebrevityofonewhoannouncesamomentousdecision。
Hestoodstill，lookingintothefire，forafewmomentsafterhiscompanionhadgone。Then，goingtoaclosetattheendoftheroom，hebroughtforthhiscoatandhat；
somethingpromptedhimtoholdthemup，andscrutinizethemunderthebrightlightoftheelectricglobe。Heputthemon，then，withasmile，half-scornful，half-amused，playinginhisbeard。
ThetouchofabuttonprecipitateddarknessupontheBoardRoom。
Hemadehiswayout，anddownstairstothestreet。
Itwasarainy，windyOctobernight，sloppyunderfoot，drippingoverhead。Atthecornerbeforehim，acabman，motionlessunderhisunshapelycoveredhatandglisteningrubbercape，satperchedaloftonhisseat，apparentlyasleep。
Thorpehailedhim，withaperemptorytone，andgavethebrusqueorder，"Strand！"asheclamberedintothehansom。
CHAPTERII
"LOUISA，thelongandshortofitisthis，"saidThorpe，halfanhourlater："youneverdidbelieveinme，asasistershoulddo。"
Hewasseatedalonewiththissister，inasmall，low，ratherdismally-appointedroom，half-heartedlylightedbytwoflickeringgasjets。Theysatsomewhatapart，confrontingafireplace，whereonlythelaidmaterialsforafiredisclosedthemselvesinthecoldgrate。Abovethemantelhunganenlargedphotographofascowlingoldman。
Thorpe'sgazerecurredautomaticallyatbriefintervalstothisportrait——whichsomehowproducedtheeffectuponhimofresponsibilityforthecheerlessnessoftheroom。
Therewereotherpicturesonthewallsofwhichhewasdimlyconscious——small，faded，oldprintsaboutDidoandAEneasandAgamemnon，whichseemedtobecomingbacktohimoutofthemistsofhischildhood。
Vagrantimpressionsandassociationsofthischildhoodstrayedwithquaintinconsequenceacrossthefieldofhispreoccupiedmind。Thepeculiarodouroftheancientbook-shoponthefloorbelowremainedlikesnuffinhisnostrils。
Somewhereunderneath，orinthewainscotingattheside，hecouldheartheassiduousgnawingofarat。Wasitthesamerat，hewonderedwithamentalgrin，thatusedtokeephimawakenights，inoneoftheroomsnexttothis，withthatsamefoolishnoise，whenhewasaboy？
"Iknowyoualwayssaythat，"repliedLouisa，impassively。
Shewasyearsolderthanherbrother，but，withoutatraceofartificeorintention，contrivedtolooktheyoungerofthetwo。Herthickhair，drawnsimplyfromhertemplesintoaknotbehind，wasofthatpalestbrownwhichassimilatesgrey。Herface，long，plain，masculineincontourandspirit，conveyednomessageastoyears。
Longandspareoffigure，shesatuprightinherstraight-backedchair，withherlarge，capablehandsonherknees。
"Ibelievedinyouasmuchasyou'dletme，"shewenton，indifferently，almostwearily。"ButIdon'tseethatitmatteredtoyouwhetherIdidordidn't。Youwentyourownway：youdidwhatyouwantedtodo。WhathadItodowithit？Idon'tsupposeIevenknewwhatpartoftheworldyouwereinmorethanonceintwoorthreeyears。
HowshouldIknowwhetheryouweregoingtosucceed，whenIdidn'tevenknowwhatitwasyouwereat？Certainlyyouhadn'tsucceededhereinLondon——butelsewhereyoumightoryoumightnot——howcouldItell？Andmoreover，Idon'tfeelthatIknowyouverywell；you'vegrownintosomethingverydifferentfromtheboyJoelthatlefttheshop——itmustbetwentyyearsago。Icanonlyknowaboutyouandyouraffairswhatyoutellme。"
"Butmypointis，"pursuedThorpe，watchingherfacewithacuriouslyintentglance，"youneversaidtoyourself：
'IKNOWhe'sgoingtosucceed。IKNOWhe'llbearichmanbeforehedies。'"
Sheshookherheaddispassionately。Hermannerexpressedfatiguedfailuretocomprehendwhyhewasmakingsomuchofthispurposelesspoint。
"No——Idon'tremembereverhavingsaidthattomyself，"
sheadmitted，listlessly。Thenacommentuponhiswordsoccurredtoher，andshespokewithmoreanimation：
"Youdon'tseemtounderstand，Joel，thatwhatwasveryimportanttoyou，didn'toccupymeatall。Youwerealwaystalkingaboutgettingrich；youkepttheideabeforeyouofsometime，atastroke，findingyourselfamillionaire。That'sbeentheideaofyourlife。
ButwhatdoIknowaboutallthat？Myworkhasbeentokeeparoofovermyhead——tokeepthelittlebusinessfromdisappearingaltogether。It'sbeenhardenough，Icantellyou，theselastfewyears，withthebigjobberscuttingtheheartsoutofthesmalltraders。
Ihadtheinvalidhusbandtosupportforbetweenthreeandfouryears——adeadweightonmeeveryweek——andthenthechildrentolookafter，toclotheandeducate。"
Atthelastwordshehesitatedsuddenly，andlookedathim。"Don'tthinkI'mungrateful"——shewenton，withatroubledeffortatasmile——"butIalmostwishyou'dneversentmethatfourhundredpoundsatall。
Whatitmeansisthatthey'vehadtwoyearsatschoolswherenowIshan'tbeabletokeepthemanylonger。
They'llbespoiledformykindoflife——andtheywon'thaveafairchanceforanyother。Idon'tknowwhatwillbecomeofthem。"
Theprofoundapprehensioninthemother'svoicedidnotdullthegleaminThorpe'seyes。Heevenbeganasmileintheshadowsofhisunkemptmoustache。
"ButwhenIsentthatmoney，forexample，twoyearsago，andover，"hepersisted，doggedly——"andItoldyouthere'dbemorewherethatcamefrom，andthatIstoodtopulloffthegreatevent——eventhen，now，youdidn'tbelieveinyourinnermostheartthatIknewwhatIwastalkingabout，didyou？"
Shefrownedwithimpatienceassheturnedtowardhim。
"Forheaven'ssake，Joel，"shesaid，sharply——"youbecomeaborewiththatstupidnonsense。Iwanttobepatientwithyou——Idoindeedsympathizewithyouinyourmisfortunes——youknowthatwellenough——butyou'reverytiresomewiththateternalharpingonwhatIbelievedandwhatIdidn'tbelieve。Now，areyougoingtostoptosupperornot？——becauseifyouareImustsendthemaidout。
Andthere'sanotherthing——woulditbeofanyhelptoyoutobringyourthingsherefromthehotel？YoucanhaveAlfred'sroomaswellasnot——tillChristmas，atleast。"
"SupposingIcouldn'tgetmyluggageoutofthehoteltillI'dsettledmybill，"suggestedThorpetentatively，inamuffledvoice。
Thepracticalwomanreflectedforaninstant。
"Iwasthinking，"sheconfessedthen，"thatitmightbecheapertoleaveyourthingsthere，andbuywhatlittleyouwant——Idon'timagine，fromwhatI'veseen，thatyourwardrobeissoveryvaluable——butno，Isupposethebilloughttobepaid。Perhapsitcanbemanaged；
howmuchwillitbe？"
Thorpemusinglyrosetohisfeet，andstrolledovertoherchair。Withhisthickhandsonhissister'sshouldershestoopedandkissedherontheforehead。
"Youbelieveinmenow，anyway，eh，Lou？"hesaid，ashestraightenedhimselfbehindher。
Theunaccustomedcaress——sodifferentincharacterfromtheperfunctorysalutewithwhichhehadgreetedheronhisarrivalfromforeignparts，sixmonthsbefore——
broughtaflushofpleasedsurprisetoherplainface。
Thenakindofbewildermentcreptintotheabstractedgazeshewasbendinguponthefirelessgrate。
Somethingextraordinary，unaccountable，wasinthemannerofherbrother。Sherecalledthat，intruth，hewasmorethanhalfastrangertoher。Howcouldshetellwhatwild，uncannysecondnaturehadnotgrownupinhimunderthoseoutlandishtropicalskies？Hehadjusttoldherthathisruinwasabsolute——overwhelming——yettherehadbeenacovertsmileintherecessesofhisglance。
Evennow，shehalffelt，halfheard，achucklefromhim，thereashestoodbehindher！
Theswiftthoughtthatdisasterhadshakenhisbrainloomedupandpossessedher。Sheflungherselfoutofthechair，and，wheeling，seizeditsbackanddrewitbetweenthemasshefacedhim。Itwaswithastareoffrankdismaythatshebeheldhimgrinningather。
"What"——shebegan，stammering——"Whatisthematter，Joel？"
Hepermittedhimselftheluxuryofsmilingblanklyatherforafurthermoment。Thenhetossedhishead，andlaughedabruptly。
"Sitdown，oldgirl，"headjuredher。"Tryandholdyourselftogether，now——tohearsomedifferentkindofnews。
I'vebeenplayingitratherlowdownonyou，forafact。
Insteadofmybeingsmashed，it'stheotherwayabout。"
Shecontinuedtoconfronthim，withanervousclaspuponthechair-back。Herbreathingtroubledherassheregardedhim，andtriedtotakeinthemeaningofhiswords。
"Doyoumean——you'vebeenlyingtomeabout——aboutyourCompany？"sheasked，confusedly。
"No——no——notatall，"hereplied，nowallgenialheartiness。
"No——whatItoldyouwasgospeltruth——butIwastakingariseoutofyouallthesame。"Heseemedsounaffectedlypleasedbyhisachievementinkindlyduplicitythatsheforcedanawkwardsmiletoherlips。
"Idon'tunderstandintheleast，"shesaid，strivingtorememberwhathehadtoldher。"Whatyousaidwasthatthepublichadentirelyfailedtocomein——thatthereweren'tenoughapplicationsforsharestopayflotationexpenses——thosewereyourownwords。Ofcourse，Idon'tpretendtounderstandtheseCitymatters——butitISthecase，isn'tit，thatifpeopledon'tsubscribeforthesharesofanewcompany，thenthecompanyisafailure？"
"Yes，thatmaybesaidtobethecase——asageneralrule，"
henoddedather，stillbeaming。
"Well，then——ofcourse——Idon'tunderstand，"sheowned。
"Idon'tknowasyou'llunderstanditmuchmorewhenI'veexplainedittoyou，"hesaid，seatinghimself，andmotioninghertotheotherchair。"Butyes，ofcourseyouwill。
You'reabusinesswoman。Youknowwhatfiguresmean。
AndreallythewholethingisassimpleasABC。YourememberthatItoldyou——"
"Butareyougoingtostoptosupper？ImustsendAnnieoutbeforetheshopsclose。"
"Supper？No——Icouldn'teatanything。I'mtooworkedupforthat。I'llgetsomethingatthehotelbeforeI
gotobed，ifIfeellikeit。Butsay！"——thethoughtsuddenlystruckhim——"ifyouwanttocomeoutwithme，I'llblowyouofftotheswaggerestdinnerinLondon。
Whatd'yesay？"
Sheshookherhead。"Ishallhavesomebreadandcheeseandbeeratnine。That'smyrule，youknow。Idon'tliketobreakit。I'malwaysqueernextdayifIdo。
Butnowmakehasteandtellme——you'rereallynotbrokenthen？Youhavereallycomeoutwell？"
Foranswerherose，anddrewhimselftohisfullheight，andspreadhisbulkyshouldersbackward。Hisgrey-blueeyeslookeddownuponherwithatriumphantglow。
"Broken？"heechoedherword，withemphasis。
"MydearLouisa，I'mnotthesortthatgetsbroken。
Ibreakotherpeople。Oh，God，howIshallbreakthem！"
Hebeganpacingupanddownonthenarrowrugbeforethefender，excitedlytellinghisstorytoher。
Sometimeshethrewthewordsoverhisshoulder；
againheheldherabsorbedgazewithhis。Hetookhishandsoftenfromhispockets，toillustrateorenforcebygesturesthemeaningofhisspeech——andthenshefounditpeculiarlydifficulttorealizethathewasherbrother。
Muchofthenarrative，ramblinganddisconnected，withwhichheprefacedthisstoryoftheday，wasvaguelyfamiliartoher。Hesketchednowforherinsummary，andwiththesonorousvoiceofonedeeplyimpressedwiththedramaticvaluesofhisdeclamation，thechronicleofhiswanderingsinstrangelands——andthesehehadfrequentlytoldheraboutbefore。Soonsheperceived，however，thathewasstringingthemtogetheronanewthread。
Oneafteranother，theseexperiencesofhis，asherelatedthem，turnedupontheobstaclesandfatalpitfallswhichtreacheryandmalicehadputinhispath。Heseemed，byhisaccount，tohavebeenahundredtimesalmostwithintouchofthegoal。InChina，intheDutchIndies，inthoseremoterpartsofAustraliawhichwereawaterlesswastewhenheknewthemandmighthaveownedthem，andnowwereyieldingfabulousmillionstofellowswhohadtrickedandswindledhim——everywherehehadmissedbyjustahair'sbreadththegoldenconsummation。
IntheWesternhemispherethetalerepeateditself。
TherehadbeentimesintheArgentine，inBraziljustbeforetheEmpirefell，inColoradowhentheSilverboomwason，inBritishColumbiawhenthefirstrumoursofrichorewerewhisperedabout——manytimeswhenfortuneseemedveritablywithinhisgrasp。Butsomeonehadalwaysplayedhimfalse。Therewasneverafriendshipforhimwhichcouldwithstandthetemptationofprofitabletreason。
Buthehadhungdauntlesslyon。Hehadseenoneconcessionslippingthroughhisfingers，onlytostrainandtightenthemforaclutchatanother。Itdidnotsurprisehishearer——norindeeddiditparticularlyattractherattention——thattherewasnowhereinthisrapidandcomprehensivenarrativeanyallusiontoindustryofthewage-earningsort。Apparently，hehaddonenoworkatall，inthebread-winner'ssenseoftheword。ThiswassolikeJoelthatitwastakenforgrantedinhissister'smind。
Allhisvoyagesandadventuresandpainfulenterpriseshadbeeninformedbythedesireofthebuccaneer——thepassiontoreapwhereothershadsown，or，attheworst，togetsomethingfornothing。
ThediscursivestorybegantonarrowandconcentrateitselfwhenatlastitreachedMexico。Thesisterchangedherpositioninherchair，andcrossedherkneeswhenTehuantepecwasmentioned。ItwasfromthatplacethatJoelhadsenthertheamazingremittanceovertwoyearsago。
Curiouslyenough，though，itwasatthispointinhisnarrativethathenowbecamevagueastodetails。
Therewereconcessionsofrubberforestsmentioned，andthebarteroftheseforotherconcessionswithmoneytoboot，andvaryingphasesofachronictroubleaboutwherethetrueboundaryofGuatemalaran——butshefailedclearlytounderstandmuchaboutitall。Hisotherschemesandmishapsshehadfollowedreadilyenough。
SomehowwhentheycametoMexico，however，shesaweverythingjumbledanddistorted，asthroughahaze。
Onceortwicesheinterruptedhimtoaskquestions，butheseemedtoattachsuchslightimportancetohercomprehendingthesedetailsthatsheforbore。OnlyonefactwasitnecessarytograspabouttheMexicanepisode，apparently。WhenhequittedTehuantepec，tomakehiswaystraighttoLondon，atthebeginningoftheyear，heleftbehindhimarubberplantationwhichhedesiredtosell，andbroughtwithhimbetweensixandseventhousandpounds，withwhichtopaytheexpensesofsellingit。
Howhehadobtainedeithertheplantationorthemoneydidnotseemtohavemadeitselfunderstood。Nodoubt，ashismannerindicatedwhensheventuredherenquiries，itwasquiteirrelevanttothenarrative。
InMexico，hisexperiencehadbeenunique，apparently，inthatnovillainhadappearedonthescenetofrustratehisplans。
Heatleastmentionednoonewhohadwrongedhimthere。
WhenhecametoLondon，however，therewerevillainsandtospare。Hemovedtothemantel，whenhearrivedatthisstageofthestory，andmadeclearaspaceforhiselbowtorestamongthelittletrinketsandphotographswithwhichitwasburdened。Hestoodstillthereafter，lookingdownather；hisvoicetookonaharshernote。
Muchofthisstory，also，sheknewbyheart。Thisstrange，bearded，greyish-hairedbrotherofhershadcomeveryoftenduringthepasthalf-yeartothelittlebook-shop，andthewidow'shomeaboveit，hismisshapenhandbagfullofpapers，hisheartfullofrage，hope，grief，ambition，disgust，confidence——everythingbutdespair。Itwastrue，ithadneverbeenquiterealtoher。Hewasrightinhissuggestionthatshehadneverwhollybelievedinhim。
Shehadnotbeenabletotakealtogetherseriouslythisclumsy，careworn，shabbily-dressedmanwhotalkedaboutmillions。Itwastruethathehadsentherfourhundredpoundsfortheeducationofhersonanddaughter；
itwasequallytruethathehadbroughtwithhimtoLondonasumwhichanyofhisancestors，sofarassheknewaboutthem，wouldhavedeemedafortune，andwhichhetreatedasmerelysomuchoil，withwhichtolubricatethemachineryofhisgreatenterprise。Shehadheard，atvarioustimes，theembittereddetailsofthedisappearanceofthismoney，littlebylittle。Nearlyaquarterofit，alltold，hadbeenappropriatedbyasleekoldbraggartofacompany-promoter，whohadcozenedJoelintothebeliefthatLondoncouldbebestapproachedthroughhim。
Whenatlastthiswretchwaskickeddownstairs，theeffecthadbeenonlytomakeroomforafreshlotofbloodsuckers。
Therewereso-calledadvertisingagents，so-calledjournalists，so-called"menofinfluenceintheCity，"——aswarmofrelentlessandvoraciousharpies，whodraggedfromhiminblackmailnearlythehalfofwhathehadleft，beforehesummonedthecourageanddecisiontoshutthemout。
Worsestill，insomeways，werethemenintowhosehandshestumblednext——agroupofCitymenconcernedintheSouthAfricanmarket，whoimpressedhimveryfavourablyattheoutset。Hegottoknowthembyaccident，andatthetimewhenhebegantocomprehendthenecessityofsecuringinfluentialsupportforhisscheme。EverythingthatheheardandcouldlearnaboutthemtestifiedtothestrengthoftheirpositionintheCity。Becausetheydisplayedacertainamiabilityofmannertowardhimandhisproject，heallowedhimselftomakesureoftheirsupport。
Itgrewtobeacertaintyinhismindthattheywouldseehimthrough。Hespentagooddealofmoneyindinnersandsuppersintheirhonour，aftertheyhadlethimunderstandthatthisformofpropitiationwasnotunpleasanttothem。
Theychaffedhimaboutsomenewspaperparagraphs，inwhichhewasdescribedasthe"RubberKing，"withanaffableassumptionofamusement，underwhichhebelievedthathedetectedagenuinerespectforhisabilities。
Finally，whenhehaddancedattendanceuponthemforthebetterpartoftwomonths，helaidbeforethem，atthecoffee-and-cigarsstageofadinnerinaprivateroomoftheSavoy，thedetailsofhisproposition。
TheyweretoformaSyndicatetotakeoverhisproperty，andplaceituponthemarket；inconsiderationoftheirfindingthereadymoneyforthisexploitation，theyweretohaveforthemselvestwo-fifthsofthesharesintheCompanyultimatelytobefloated。Theylistenedtothesedetails，andtohisenthusiasticremarksabouttheprojectitself，withratherperfunctorypatience，butcommittedthemselvesthateveningtonothingdefinite。Ittookhimnearlyaweekthereaftertogetananswerfromanyofthem。
Thenhelearnedthat，iftheytookthematterupatall，itwouldbeuponthebasisoftheSyndicatereceivingnine-tenthsoftheshares。
Heconceivedtheidea，afterhehadmasteredhisoriginalamazement，thattheynamedthesepreposteroustermsmerelybecausetheyexpectedtobebeatendown，andhesummonedallhisgoodnatureandtactforthetaskofhagglingwiththem。Hemisunderstoodtheirfirstshowofimpatienceatthis，andperseveredinthefaceoftheirtacitrebuffs。Then，oneday，acoupleofthemtreatedhimwithovertrudeness，andhe，astonishedoutofhiscaution，repliedtotheminkind。Suddenly，hecouldhardlytellwhyorhow，theywereallenemiesofhis。
Theyclosedtheirofficedoorstohim；eventheirclerkstreatedhimwithcontemptuousincivility。
Thisblowtohisprideenragedandhumiliatedhim，curiouslyenough，asnoothermisadventureofhislifehaddone。
Louisarememberedvividlythedescriptionhehadgiventoher，atthetime，ofthisaffair。Shehadhardlyunderstoodwhyitshoulddisturbhimsoprofoundly：tohermind，thesemenhaddonenothingsomonstrousafterall。Buttohim，theiroffenseswallowedupalltheotherindignitiessufferedduringtheyearsofhisIshmaelitishwanderings。
Asombrelustforvengeanceuponthemtookrootinhisverysoul。Hehatednobodyelseashehatedthem。
Howoftenshehadheardhimswear，insolemnvibratingtones，thattothedayofhisdeathhismostsacredambitionshouldbetheirpunishment，theirabasementinthedustandmire！
Andnow，allatonce，asshelookedupathim，whereheleantagainstthemantel，thesevagabondmemoriesofherstookpointandshape。Itwasabouttheseverymenthathewastalking。
"Andthinkofit！"hewassaying，impressively。"It'smagnificentenoughformetomakethisgreathit——butIdon'tcountitasanythingatallbycomparisonwiththefactthatImakeitattheirexpense。YourememberthefellowsItoldyouabout？"
heaskedabruptly，deferringtotheconfusedlookonherface。
"Yes——youmakeitoutofthem，"sherepeated，inanuncertainvoice。Itoccurredtoherthatshemusthavebeenalmostasleep。"ButdidImissanything？
Haveyoubeentellingwhatitisthatyouhavemade？"
"No——thatyoushallhaveingoodtime。Youdon'tseemtorealizeit，Louisa。Icanhardlyrealizeitmyself。
Iamactuallyaveryrichman。Ican'ttellhowmuchI'vegot——infact，itcanbealmostasmuchasIlike——
halfamillionpounds，Isuppose，atthestart，ifIwanttomakeitthatmuch。Yes——ittakesthebreathaway，doesn'tit？Butbestofall——athousandtimesbestofall——practicallyeverydollarofitcomesoutofthoseKaffirswine——theverymenthattriedtorobme，andthathavebeentryingtoruinmeeversince。ItellyouwhatIwish，Louise——IwishtoGodtherecouldonlybetimeenough，andI'dtakeitallinhalf-sovereigns——twomillionsofthem，orthreemillions——andjustuntwisteverycoin，onebyone，outfromamongtheirheart-strings。Oh——butit'llbeallrightasitis。It'senoughtomakeamanfeelreligious——tothinkhowthosethievesaregoingtosuffer。"
"Well"shesaid，slowlyafterreflection，"itallratherfrightensme。"
Asifthechillintheairofthecheerlessroomhadsuddenlyaccentuateditself，shearose，tookamatch-
boxfromthemantel，and，stooping，litthefire。
Helookeddownatthetall，black-cladfigure，bentinstiffawkwardnessoverthesmokinggrate，andhiseyessoftened。
Thenhetookfreshnoteoftheroom——thefaded，threadbarecarpet，thesparseoldfurniturethathadseemeduglytoevenhisuninformedboyishtaste，thedingywallsandbegrimedlowceiling——allpatheticsymbolsofthebleaklifetowhichshehadbeencondemned。
"Frightensyou？"hequeried，withakindofjovialtenderness，asshegottoherfeet；"frightensyou，eh？Why，withinamonth'stime，oldlady，you'llberidingintheParkinyourowncarriage，withniggersfoldingtheirarmsupbehind，andyou'llbetakingitallaseasyandasnaturalasifyou'dbeenborninabarouche。"
Headded，inresponsetotheenquiryofherliftedbrows：
"Barouche？That'swhatwe'dcallinEnglandalandau。"
Shestoodwithafootuponthefender，hertired，passivefaceinclinedmeditatively，herrustyoldblackgowndrawnbackbyonehandfromthesnappingsparks。
"No，"shesaid，slowly，joylessresignationminglingwithprideinhervoice。"Iwasbornhereovertheshop。"
"Well，goodGod！sowasI，"hecommented，lustily。
"Butthat'snoreasonwhyIshouldn'twindupinParkLane——oryoueither。"
Shehadnothingtosaytothis，apparently。Afteralittle，sheseatedherselfagain，drawingherchairclosertothehearth。"It'syearssinceI'velitthisfirebeforethefirstofNovember，"sheremarked，withtheairofdefendingtheactiontoherself。
"Oh，we'recelebrating，"hesaid，rubbinghishandsoverthereluctantblaze。"Everythinggoes，tonight！"
Herface，asshelookedupathim，betrayedthebewildermentofhermind。"Yousetouttotellmewhatitwasallabout，"
sheremindedhim。"YouseeI'mcompletelyinthedark。
Ionlyhearyousaythatyou'vemadeagreatfortune。
That'sallIknow。Orperhapsyou'vetoldmeasmuchasyoucareto。"
"Why，notatall，"hereassuredher，pullinghisownchairtowardhimwithhisfoot，andsprawlingintoitwithagruntofrelief。"Ifyou'lldrawmeaglassofthatbeerofyours，I'lltellyouallaboutit。
It'snotathingforeverybodytoknow，nottobebreathedtoahumanbeing，forthatmatter——butyou'llenjoyit，andit'llbesafeenoughwithyou。"
Assherose，andmovedtowardadoor，hecalledmerrilyafterher："Nomorebeerwhenthatkegrunsdry，youknow。
Nothingbutchampagne！"
CHAPTERIII
THORPEtookalong，thoughtfulpullatthebeerhissisterbroughthim。
"Ah，Ididn'tknowIwassothirsty，"hesaid，whenheputtheglassdown。"Truthis——I'velosttrackofmyselfaltogethersince——sincethebigthinghappened。
Iseemtobesomebodyelse——acomparativestranger，sotospeak。I'vegottogetacquaintedwithmyself，alloveragain。Youcan'timaginewhatanextraordinaryfeelingitis——thisbeinghiteveryfewminuteswiththerecollectionthatyou'reworthhalfamillion。
It'slikebeingstruckoverthehead。Itknocksyoudown。
Therearesuchthousandsofthingstodo——youdanceabout，allofaflutter。Youdon'tknowwheretobegin。"
"Beginwhereyouleftoff，"suggestedLouisa。"Youweregoingtotellmehow——how'thebigthing'happened。
You'realwayscomingtoit——andnevergettinganyfurther。"
Noddingcomprehensionoftherebuke'sjustification，heplungedforthwithintothetale。
"YouremembermytellingyouatthetimehowIgotmyBoardtogether。I'mspeakingnowofthepresentCompany——afterI'ddecidedtobemyownpromoter，andhaveatleastsomekindof'alook-in'formymoney。Therewasn'tmuchmoneyleft，bytheway；itwasconsiderablyunderthreethousand。
ButIcometothatlater。FirsttherewastheBoard。
HerewaswherethatLordPlowdenthatItoldyouabout——themanthatcameoverontheshipwithme——camein。
Iwenttohim。I——God！Iwasdesperate——butIhadn'tmuchofanideahe'dconsent。Buthedid！Helistenedtome，andItoldhimhowI'dbeenrobbed，andhowtheSyndicatewouldhavecutmythroatifIhadn'tpulledaway，——andhesaid，'Why，yes，I'llgoonyourBoard。'
ThenItoldhimmoreaboutit，andpresentlyhesaidhe'dgetmeanothermanoftitle——asky-scraperofatitletoo——tobemyChairman。That'stheMarquisofChaldon，atremendousdiplomaticswell，youknow，AmbassadoratViennainhistime，andLordLieutenantandallsortsofthings，butwillingtogatherinhisfivehundredayear，allthesame。"
"DoyoumeanthatYOUpayHIMfivehundredpoundsayear？"
askedthesister。
"Yes，I'vegotaliveMarkisswhoworksformeattenquidaweek，andafewextras。TheotherDirectorsgetthreehundred。ThisLordPlowdenisoneofthem——butI'lltellyoumoreabouthimlateron。Thenthere'sWatkin，he'sasmallaccountantFinsburyway；andDavidson，he'sawine-merchantwhousedtobelongtoabigfirminDundee，butgetsalongthebestwayhecanonaverydickybusinesshereinLondon，now。Andthenthere'sGeneralKervick，awfullywell-connectedoldchap，theysay，butIguessheneedsallhecanget。He'sstartedwearinghisfur-coatalready。Well，that'smyBoard。Icouldn'tjoinit，ofcourse，tillafterallotment——that'sbecauseI'mthevendor，astheycallit——butthathasn'tinterferedatallwithmyrunningthewholeshow。TheBoarddoesn'treallycount，youknow。ItonlydoeswhatIwantittodo。
It'sjustaformthatcostsmeseventeenhundredayear，that'sall。"
"Seventeenhundredayear，"sherepeated，mechanically。
"Well，thenwegotouttheprospectus，d'yesee。
Orfirst，therewereotherthingstobedone。Isawthatagoodbroker'snamecountedforalotonaprospectus。
IpickedoutonethatI'dheardwasreasonable——it'dbeenasplendidnameifIcouldhavegotit——buthecalmlysaidhispricewastwothousandpounds，allcashdown——andI
cameaway。FinallyIgotafellowwhohadn'tdonemuchofanythingyet，andsowasn'tsostiffabouthisfigure。
Heagreedtotake500poundscash，and2，000inshares。
ItwasGod'sluckthatIhitonhim，forheturnedout，atthepinch，tobetheonemaninamillionforme。
ButI'lltellyouabouthimlater。He'stheBroker，mind；
youmustn'tforgethim。Well，then，heandIgotaSolicitor——hetook200poundscash，buthehadtohave2，000
shares——andthefirmofAuditors——theywere100poundscashand1，000shares。Everycompanyhastohavethesepeoplepastedontoit，bylaw。Ohyes，andthenyoumusthaveyourBankers。Youdon'tpaythemanything，though，thankGod！Well，then，therewasthemachinerycomplete，allreadytostart。Itookahandsomesetofoffices，andfurnishedthemuptothenines——butthatIwasabletodoprettywelloncredit。Yousee，readymoneywasgettingshort。
"Andnowcamethebiggestpullofall。Therewasthepresstobeworked。"
HespokeasiftherewerenootherpapersinLondonbutthefinancialjournals。
"Ididn'tsleepmuchwhilethatwasbeingfixedup。You'vegotnomoreideaofwhatthepressmeans，Louisa，thanyouhaveof——ofacoilofsnakesthawingouthungryinthespring。
Why，ifoneblackmailercametome，Iswearahundreddid。
Theyscaredthelifeoutofme，thefirstmonthorso。
Andthenthere'saswarmofadvertisingagents，whosaytheycankeeptheseblackmailersoff，ifyou'llmakeitworththeirwhile。Buttheyallwantedtoomuchmoneyforme——andforawhileIwasatmywits'ends。AtlastIgotafellow——he'snotbehavedsobadly，allthingsconsidered——whohadsomesportingbloodinhisveins，andhewaswillingtodothewholethingfor5，000pounds，ifIcouldpay1，500poundsdown，andtherestinshares。
ButthatwasjustwhatIcouldn'tdo，yousee，sofinallyhetook1，000poundsdownand5，000inshares——andasI
sayhe'sdoneittolerablywell。TherewasoneeditorthatIhadtosquarepersonally——thatistosay，100poundscash——ithadtobeinsovereigns，fornotescouldbetraced——andacallof2，000sharesatpar，——he'sthebosspiratethateverybodyhastosquare——andofcoursetherewereoddten-poundnoteshereandthere，butasaruleI
justopenedthedoorandfiredtheblack-mailersout。
Themomentafellowcamein，andhandedmehiscard，andsaidhehadproofsoftwokindsofarticlesinhispocket，onepraisingme，onedamningme，Itoldhimtogoandseemyadvertisingagent，andifhewouldn'tdothat，thentogotohell。That'sthewayyou'vegottotalkintheCity，"
headded，asifinapologeticexplanation。
Louisalookedimpassivelyatherbrother。"Oh，I'veheardtheexpressionasfarwestastheStrand，"sheremarked。
"Well，thencametheissue。ThatwaslastSaturday。
YousawtheprospectusinSaturdaymorning'spapers，andintheweeklies。Thelistwastobekeptopen，itsaid，tillWednesdaymorning——thatwasyesterday。
Thatistosay，duringallthattime，peoplecouldapplyforshares。"
"Whichtheydidn'tdo——accordingtoyouraccount，"
thesistersuggested，dryly。
Thorpepassedhisfingersthroughhisroughenedhair，andeyedherwithamomentaryquizzicalgleaminhiseye。
Thenhebecameseriousagain。Therecollectionofwhathewasnowtonarratebroughtafrowntohisbrows。
"OnTuesdayafternoon，"hebegan，withportentousdeliberation——"Orno，firstImustexplainsomething。
Yousee，inbringingoutacompany，youcan'tputuptoostoutabluff。Imean，you'vegottobehaveasifyouwererollinginwealth——asifeverythingwascomingyourway，andfortunesweretobemadebyfasteningtoyou。
Idon'tknowthatitoftenfoolsanybodyverymuch，butit'spartofthegame，andyoumustplayit。
Well，accordingly，myBrokergoeson'changeSaturdaymorning，andhashisjobbershoutoutthathe'llbuy'RubberConsols'——that'swhatoursharesarecalledonthestreet——ataneighthpremium；thatistosay，heofferedtobuyfortwenty-two-and-sixwhatwewereofferingtothepublicfortwentyshillings。Ofcourse，yousee，theobjectofthatwastocreatetheimpressionthattherewasaregularGod-almightyrushforourshares。
AsIsay，Idon'tknowwhetherthateverfooledanybody——butatleasttherewasthechancethatitmightstartupsomedealingintheshares——andallthosethingshelp。
Besides，yougotthesalesnoticedinthepapers，andthatmightstartupapplicationsfromthepublic。
Well，theBrokerbought1，000sharesthiswayonSaturday。
OnMonday，whenitmightstillbepossibletochangetheluck，hebought3，500more，stillatthatpremiumofaneighth。HeboughtsomeTuesdaymorningtoo——say4，000。Well，now，keepthosefiguresinyourhead，andkeepaneyeontheBroker。He'sworthwatching——asyou'llsee。"
"What'shisname？"askedthesister，withanaccessionofalertnessinherface。"Youcallhim'Broker'——andthatdoesn'tmeananythingtome。They'reallbrokers，aren'tthey？"
"Semple——ColinSemple，that'shisname。He'sayoungScotchman——father'saPresbyterianminister。He'salittle，insignificantruntofachaptolookat——butIlearnedalongtimeagonottojudgeasingedcatbyhislooks。
However——wherewasI？"
"YouweregoingtotellaboutTuesdayafternoon，weren'tyou？"
Henoddedgravely，andstraightenedhimself，drawingalongbreathinpreparationforthedramaticrecitalbeforehim。
"OnTuesdayafternoon，"hebeganagain，withimpressiveslowness，"IwaswalkingonThrogmortonStreet，aboutfouro'clock。Itwasrainingalittle——ithadbeenrainingonandoffallday——amiserable，rottensortofaday，withgreasymudeverywhere，andeverybodypokingumbrellasintoyou。IwasoutwalkingbecauseI'd'a'
cutmythroatifI'dtriedtostayintheofficeanothertenminutes。AllthatdayIhadn'teatenanything。
Ihadn'tsleptworthspeakingofforthreenights。
Thewholegamewasupforme。Iwasworsethanruined。
Ihadhalfacrowninmypocket。Ihadtenortwelvepoundsinthebank——andtheywouldn'tletmeoverdrawafarthing。
Itellyou，Iwasjustplumbbusted。
"Therecamealonginthegutterasandwich-man。I'dseenthecussbeforeduringtheday，walkingupanddownnearmyoffices。Itooknoticeofhim，becausehewastheraggedest，dirtiest，mostforlorn-lookingcrippleyoueversawinyourlife。NowIreadwhatwasonhisboards。
ItwasthebillofapaperthatIhadrefusedtobebledby，andthereitwasinbigletters：'TheRubberBubbleBurst！'
'Thorpe'sAudacityPunished！'Thosewerethewords。
Icanseethemwithmyeyesshut。Istoodthere，lookingatthefellow，andIsupposetherewassomethinginthewayIlooked，forhestoppedtoo。
Ofcourse，hedidn'tknowmefromAdam，butallthesame，I'mdamnedifhedidn'twinkhiseyeatme——asifwetwohadajokebetweenus。AndatthatIburstoutlaughing——I
simplyroaredwithlaughter，likeaboyatapantomime——andItookthatlasthalf-crownoutofmypocket，andIgaveittothesandwich-man。God！youshouldhaveseenhisface。"
"Idon'tparticularlymind，Joel，"saidhissister，"butIneverheardyouswearsomuchbefore。"
"Oh，whatthe——whatthedeuce！"heprotested，impatiently。
"Don'tinterruptmenow！Well，Iwentondownthestreet。
ThemembersoftheStockExchangewerecomingoutof'thehouse，'andmakinguplittlegroupsonthepavement。
Theydobusinessinside，youknow，untilclosingtime——thisdayithappenedtobefouro'clock——andthentheycomeoutanddealinthestreetwithoneanother，withthekerb-stonemob，whoarenotallowedinside，standingroundtowatchthething。Icamealongintothethickofthesefellows；theywereyellingoutallsortsofthings——'EastRands，''Oroyas，''LakeViewCentrals，'
andwhatnot，butthesewentinoneearandouttheother。