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178 went on to say that there were two methods by which you could be spurred on to action. The surest plan was an appeal to your sympathy. The touch of gold might find you adamant, but the appeal of distress found you as impressionable as wax. He instanced Bendale's Stores capitalised at I don't know how many millions, and said the foundation of this far-reaching organisation, this constantly-growing business, was the tears of an old woman in a ragged shawl."

"Oh, hang it all," protested Stranleigh, "that's not true. The woman wasn't old, merely middle-aged. She was a native of my part of the country, you see; daughter of one of my father's lodge-keepers. A fellow couldn't allow anyone, practically a member of his own household, to be trampled upon by the heartless City of London, now, could he?"

"I, being one of the trampled, naturally agree with you, Lord Stranleigh. Anyhow, that was the instance Hazel gave, and Isaacstein seemed the more envious and desirous of having your name on his prospectus, because he said it was your name that had influenced the public to buy shares in Bendale's Stores. He said the public bit like trout in may-fly time, from which I take it that Isaacstein is a fisher."

"The public did bite," said Stranleigh, "but were not bitten. The Bendale Stores were worth the money asked, for they pay eleven per cent. on