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Rh pagne, smoked his cigar, and narrowly watched his host. When the latter had finished his reading he put the rubber band on the packet again, and said:

"You'd better let me have these."

"Oh, I don't know about that."

"I do. You give me these letters in return for the money I've advanced. That leaves us square."

"Very well; they're of no use to me. I've thought over the situation, as you advised, and I'm determined to know exactly what you are going to do."

Isador shrugged his shoulders, placed the letters in an inside pocket, and said, carelessly:

"I have not the least objection to telling you. You think, I suppose, that I intend to break into Lord Stranleigh's treasury while he's away?"

"I'm sure you're up to some devilment, and I'm resolved to find out just how deep it is."

"I suppose," returned the financier, "that if it's deep enough you can go to Lord Stranleigh and sell me out? You can get more from him than I've offered you."

"There is this in the way of your amiable suggestion, Mr. Isaacstein. If I did go to Lord Stranleigh, he'd merely laugh at me. He does not believe I am shrewd enough either to save him, or to help myself. No, Stranleigh wouldn't pay ten thousand pounds for anything I could do for him, therefore you are quite safe. I will not waste time