“If we take on the contract, he ought to pay a bigger share, then,” said the other, firmly.

“Perhaps he will,” said Tredgold, hastily.

Mr. Stobell pondered again and, slightly raising one hand, indicated that he was in the throes of another idea and did not wish to be disturbed.

“You said it would be experience for Edward to be left alone,” he said, accusingly.

“I did,” was the reply.

“You ought to pay more, too, then,” declared the contractor, “because it’s serving of your ends as well.”

“We can’t split straws,” exclaimed Tredgold, impatiently.  “If the captain consents we three will find the money and divide our portion, whatever it is, equally.”

Mr. Chalk, who had been in the clouds during this discussion, came back to earth again.  “If he consents,” he said, sadly; “but he won’t.”

“Well, he can only, refuse,” said Mr. Tredgold; “and, anyway, we’ll have the first refusal.  Things like that soon get about.  What do you say to a stroll?  I can think better while I’m walking.”

His friends assenting, they put on their hats and sallied forth.  That they should stroll in the direction of Dialstone Lane surprised neither of them.  Mr. Tredgold leading, they went round by the church, and that gentleman paused so long to admire the architecture that Mr. Stobell got restless.

“You’ve seen it before, Tredgold,” he said, shortly.

“It’s a fine old building,” said the other.  “Binchester ought to be proud of it.  Why, here we are at Captain Bowers’s!”

“The house has been next to the church for a couple o’ hundred years,” retorted his friend.

“Let’s go in,” said Mr. Tredgold.  “Strike while the iron’s hot.  At any rate,” he concluded, as Mr. Chalk voiced feeble objections, “we can see how the land lies.”

He knocked at the door and then, stepping aside, left Mr. Chalk to lead the way in.  Captain Bowers, who was sitting with Prudence, looked up at their entrance, and putting down his newspaper extended a hearty welcome.

“Chalk didn’t like to pass without looking in,” said Mr. Tredgold, “and I haven’t seen you for some time.  You know Stobell?”

The captain nodded, and Mr. Chalk, pale with excitement, accepted his accustomed pipe from the hands of Miss Drewitt and sat nervously awaiting events.  Mr. Tasker set out the whisky, and, Miss Drewitt avowing a fondness for smoke in other people, a comfortable haze soon filled the room.  Mr. Tredgold, with a significant glance at Mr. Chalk, said that it reminded him of a sea-fog.

It only reminded Mr. Chalk, however, of a smoky chimney from which he had once suffered, and he at once entered into minute details.  The theme was an inspiriting one, and before Mr. Tredgold could hark back to the sea again Mr. Stobell was discoursing, almost eloquently for him, upon drains.  From drains to the shortcomings of the district council they progressed by natural and easy stages, and it was not until Miss Drewitt had withdrawn to the clearer atmosphere above that a sudden ominous silence ensued, which Mr. Chalk saw clearly he was expected to break.