“Regular busy time in the city,” he remarked to his father.  “Never saw such a hum.  It’s all over this boom in South Africa.  They’re floating that new company I was telling you about, and the Stock Exchange is half wild about it.  They say the shares will run to a hundred per cent. premium before the week’s out; and if you’ve got any money to spare, guv’nor, I should recommend you to have a little flutter; for it’s a certainty.”

Mr. Heron seemed to prick up his ears with an amount of worldly interest which scarcely harmonised with his saintly character.

“What company is that?” he asked Joseph.

“The company started to work Sir Stephen Orme’s,” replied Joseph, thrusting his hands deep into his pockets, and stretching out his legs still farther so that he could admire his large, patent-leather clad feet.  “It’s about the biggest thing on record, and is going to sweep the market.  All the big ’uns are in it, Griffenberg and Wirsch and the Beltons.  They say Sir Stephen has made half a million of money out of it already, and that he will make a couple of millions before he has done with it.  There was a rumour in the city to-day that he was to get a peerage; for it’s a kind of national affair, you see.”

Ida was sitting beyond the radius of the light from the evil-smelling lamp, so that the others did not perceive the sudden pallor of her face.  It seemed to her a cruel fate that she could not escape, even here, so many miles away from Herondale, from the reminder of the man she had loved and lost.  The name struck on her heart like a stroke causing actual physical pain.  She sat perfectly still, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, as the wave of misery swept over her.

“Here is an instance of toil rewarded,” said Mr. Heron, promptly improving the occasion.  “The labourer is worthy of his hire; and no doubt Sir Stephen Orme, by bringing vast tracts under the beneficent influence of civilisation, merits the approval of his sovereign and a substantial reward at the hands of his fellow-subjects.  Let us trust that he will use his wealth and high position for the welfare of the heathen who rage in the land which he has—­er—­”

“Collared,” put in Mr. Joseph, in an undertone and with a grin.

—­“Added to the queen’s dominions,” said Mr. Heron.  “I will consider about the shares.  I do not approve of speculation—­the pursuit of Mammon—­but as I should use the money for charitable purposes, I may on this occasion—­”

“Better make up your mind pretty soon,” remarked Joseph, with a yawn.  “There’s a rush for them already.”

“Now that the gentlemen have got on to business, my dear, I think we had better retire to the drawing-room,” said Mrs. Heron, with an attempt at the “grand lady.”