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Rh course. Come to me in the smoking-room when you have got him."

A few moments later the servant accosted him in the smoking-room.

"Very sorry, sir, but the Exchange can get no answer from Mr. Montague."

Don't let that discourage you," said Stranleigh with a smile. "Say a few complimentary words to the girl at the Exchange, and ask her, as a kindness to Lord Stranleigh, to ring up Montague until he replies. Tell her to make sleep impossible in his house through the ringing of the telephone bell. Make the drowsy Montague's life a burden to him until he rises to the 'phone. There can't be much telephoning going on just now, so the girl can put her whole mind to it."

After a long interval the servant returned.

"I have got Mr. Montague, my lord, who doesn't seem to be in a very amiable frame of mind."

"I dare say," drawled Stranleigh, "things are going rather cross-wise in the City, and Montague's a mere stockbroker."

He rose without hurry, and went to the telephone booth. Montague evidently thought he was talking to the Exchange, and his language was painful and free.

"What the devil do you mean?" he cried, "by making my residence a pandemonium? When the telephone bell isn't answered, then ring off, and say