Mills was silent again.  Then: 

“Have you bought that option in Boston Coppers,” he asked.

“Yes; I bought to-day.”

Mills glanced at the clock as Mr. Taynton rose to go.

“Still only a quarter to twelve,” he said.  “If you have time, you might give me a detailed statement.  I hardly know what you have done.  It won’t take a couple of minutes.”

Mr. Taynton glanced at the clock likewise, and then put down his hat again.

“I can just spare the time,” he said, “but I must get home by twelve; I have unfortunately come out without my latchkey, and I do not like keeping the servants up.”

He pressed his fingers over his eyes a moment and then spoke.

* * * * *

Ten minutes later he was in the bird-cage of the lift again, and by twelve he had been admitted into his own house, apologising most amiably to his servant for having kept him up.  There were a few letters for him and he opened and read those, then lit his bed-candle and went upstairs, but instead of undressing, sat for a full quarter of an hour in his armchair thinking.  Then he spoke softly to himself.

“I think dear Mills means mischief in some way,” he said.  “But really for the moment it puzzles me to know what.  However, I shall see tomorrow.  Ah, I wonder if I guess!”

Then he went to bed, but contrary to custom did not get to sleep for a long time.  But when he did there was a smile on his lips; a patient contented smile.

CHAPTER III

Mr. Taynton’s statement to his partner, which had taken him so few minutes to give, was of course concerned only with the latest financial operation which he had just embarked in, but for the sake of the reader it will be necessary to go a little further back, and give quite shortly the main features of the situation in which he and his partner found themselves placed.

Briefly then, just two years ago, at the time peace was declared in South Africa, the two partners of Taynton and Mills had sold out L30,000 of Morris Assheton’s securities, which owing to their excellent management was then worth L40,000, and seeing a quite unrivalled opportunity of making their fortunes, had become heavy purchasers of South African mines, for they reasoned that with peace once declared it was absolutely certain that prices would go up.  But, as is sometimes the way with absolute certainties, the opposite had happened and they had gone down.  They cut their loss, however, and proceeded to buy American rails.  In six months they had entirely repaired the damage, and seeing further unrivalled opportunities from time to time, in buying motorcar shares, in running a theatre and other schemes, had managed a month ago to lose all that was left of the L30,000.  Being, therefore, already so deeply committed, it was mere prudence, the mere instinct of self-preservation that had led them to sell out the remaining L10,000, and to-day Mr. Taynton had bought an option in Boston Copper with it.  The manner of an option is as follows: