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Rh more than an hour, and yet have accomplished nothing."

Good Lord! it isn't so late as that? I promised Lord Stranleigh I'd return to the Corinthian Club. He's waiting there for me now. Where's your telephone?"

"Be careful what you say to him," cautioned Isaacstein, whose head was quite clear. There was yet a good deal of undrunk champagne in his jug. Hazel had been rather deluging himself, but there was still no thickness in his speech and no uncertainty in his walk when he arose. "Tell him you've got a business conference on which may bring you in a good deal of money within the next few days, and apologise for not returning to the Club."

"All right, all right," replied Hazel, with a gesture of impatience. "I know how to talk to Stranleigh."

A servant conducted him to the telephone, rang up the Club, got his lordship, and handed the receiver to Hazel.

"That you, Stranleigh?"

"Yes. Fine time of night this to ring a man up. I thought you were returning to the Club?"

"I thought so, too, but I have an important business conference on that may result rather to my own advantage."

He heard Stranleigh laughing, and that irritated him, but with the financier's warning still ringing