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6 serve. "Tea for two, and all the extras, you know. Cake for two—a mountain of cake, and, I say, my girl, you haven't such a thing as a drop of—oh, I see—no licence—yes, quite so, quite so. Very well, then, tea, of the best you can furnish."

The girl departed, and the woman raised her head, drying her eyes.

"My lord," she said, "I am ashamed of myself."

"Nonsense! I saw you were overwrought the moment I met you. The cry and the tea combined will do you good, and as there is no witness but myself, we needn't care, either of us, need we? When I spoke of assistance, I was referring to a little friendly advice, and it really won't do any harm if there's a bit of money behind it to add practicality to theory. Perhaps you heard that worthy and stalwart citizen say I was brainless, but, you see, we never like to admit a charge that contains an element of truth, so I flatter myself that in a crisis I may see a way out which may have been overlooked by more competent men.

"Indeed, Lord Stranleigh," said Mrs. Bendale with some indignation, "the man had no right to speak of you as he did. I saw your portrait in all the papers a while ago, and they said you were the greatest financier of the age."

Lord Stranleigh laughed heartily.

"Oh, the papers will say anything. I am not sure after all but the labouring man made a much closer shot at the truth. Now, Mrs. Bendale,