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Rh pelled to adopt it. It will become as universal as the air-brake. You need no assurance from me on that score. I ought, on the contrary, to receive from you, who are in the position of a monopolist, a guarantee that your invention should not become the sole property of any one particular road. It must be open to the whole railway world with no favoured nation clause, and no secret rebates.'

I willingly agree to that,' said Sarsfield-Mitcham, and without another word the conference ended."

"By the gods, that seems to me as straightforward a talk as ever I've heard. Did Flannigan keep his word in every respect?"

"He did."

"Well, with all due deference to this young lady, I don't see what she has to complain of."

"Of course, you are bound to take into account her experiences with men apparently similarly straightforward. Up to the present she has only her woman's intuition to go on."

"Oh, there's a great deal of nonsense talked about woman's intuition! I think it a most unsafe guide in business. If, instead of a battle-scarred veteran like Flannigan, who never looked at her, there had been a nice young man resembling Peter Mackeller, her woman's intuition would have led to complete trust, which probably has been the outcome in your case."

"You do like to hear yourself talk, don't you?"