During the next three or four weeks his broker sold out his shares in small blocks, and when the quantity had been largely reduced, Herbert decided that he would dispose of those he had purchased on George’s account.  Though there were signs of a diminishing interest in such stock, values had scarcely begun to fall, and having made his position secure, he did not wish his cousin to incur a loss.  Accordingly he sent instructions to sell another lot of shares.

He was very busy the next day when a telegram was brought him, but he sat still for some minutes considering it.  The market, it stated, had suddenly fallen flat, and as prices were giving way sharply, further orders were requested.  The change Herbert had foreseen had come a little sooner than he had expected.  He still held some shares, which he had thought of keeping, because it might, after all, prove judicious to retain a degree of control in the company, and having sold the rest at a good profit, a moderate fall in their value would be of less consequence.  The drop, however, was marked, and he decided to further reduce the quantity standing in his name, instead of realizing those belonging to his cousin.  George must take his chance; and the market might rally.  As a result of these reflections he wired his broker to sell, and in a few hours received an answer.

“Sale effected within limit given, market since broken badly, expect slump.”

Herbert saw that he had acted with prudence, though it was evident that his cousin had incurred a serious loss.  He was sorry for this, but it could not be helped.

A few days later he was sitting beside the fire at home after his evening meal when Sylvia entered the room in his wife’s absence.  She stood near the hearth, examining some embroidery in her hand, but she looked up presently, and it became evident that she had been reading the papers.

“There seems to be a sharp fall in rubber shares,” she said.  “Will it affect you?”

“No,” replied Herbert, “not seriously.”

“I suppose that means you must have anticipated the fall and sold out—­unloaded, I think you call it—­in time?”

Herbert did not wish to discuss the matter.  He had already had one or two trying interviews with his business colleagues, and the opinions they had expressed about him still rankled in his mind.  He was not particularly sensitive, but the subject was an unpleasant one.

“Something of the kind,” he answered.  “One has to take precautions.”

Sylvia laughed.

“One could imagine your taking them.  You’re not the man to be caught at a disadvantage, are you?”

“Well,” he said dryly, “it’s a thing I try to avoid.”

Sylvia sat down, as if she meant to continue the conversation, which was far from what he desired, but he could not be discourteous.

“Had George any shares in your company?” she asked.