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314 "I am not a gentleman of leisure. I have my work here," I said coldly.

Bottiger sat frowning, Chelubai sat gloomy, I sat silent, waiting for reason to pierce Bottiger's skull. At last Chelubai's face brightened a little and he said, "If only your sister and you would come up for a few days, now and then, it wouldn't be so dull."

"Seeing that you go into exile for our sakes, it seems to me that the least we can do is to come and brighten it with bridge, as often as possible," I said kindly; and I only wished I might get the chance of bringing her.

"I think that the sooner I get a move on the Quorley Granite Company the sooner will your hospital pay dividends," said Chelubai,with grave seriousness.

"Yours is a noble heart, Chelubai," I said warmly. "Angel has always recognized it."

Bottiger looked at him with a sharp jealousy. "Of course there's the fishing," he said sulkily.

I took it to mean that he would go.

On the third day, without more ado, they went. They were to come down again if there was any trouble about our directorships; but we had reason to believe that there would be none. Albert Amsted Pudleigh had dismissed Pleever, indeed, but showed no signs of fighting us. Perhaps he saw