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320 playing young fellow, who nevertheless owns twenty thousand shares in his railway. It will be impossible for me to conceal from him that the people I like can mould me this way or that according to their fancy, so he will doubtless say to himself: 'I'll make a friend of this chap. He may prove a useful ally in the future.' I shall make no remark to Preston that will either arouse his resentment or wound his vanity."

"You can't move him by flattery or soft talk, Stranleigh."

"I know that's your theory, but it's not mine. Never drive a man when you can persuade him. I shan't attempt to drive until I have exhausted my powers of persuasion."

Mackeller said no more, and Lord Stranleigh accompanied him to the portico of the club, and there bade him good-night while the porter whistled for a hansom.

Stranleigh strolled thoughtfully through the hall to the platform where the various tickers were rapping out the latest news of a disastrous day. He ran the tape through his fingers, and tried for a few moments to study the final quotations, muttering to himself:

"I never could understand these cursed hieroglyphics."

Turning, he said to one of the club servants:

"Would you kindly ring up on the telephone Mr. Ernest Montague—his residence, not his office, of