estate Simon was almost in the family. George found himself studying that shrewd but kindly countenance and wondering what he would say if he knew what Blodgett, Tompkins, and Haley were proposing to do to him.
Yet George rallied tolerably to the social responsibilities of the occasion. Sir Brian made this rather easy, for he was at his best this night.
The Englishman was particularly good over the coffee and cigars, but after the gentlemen rejoined the ladies there was some professional entertainment and Miss Pauson "obliged" at the harp.
George particularly detested harps and, seizing an opportunity, withdrew as far as possible from that golden instrument, sequestering himself in the library where a box of Charlie's clear Havanas appeared ready to his hand.
Now it chanced that one person in the company had noted George's flight and trailed him swiftly to his refuge. That person was Simon Mumford. He chuckled gloatingly at the prospect of a quiet chat in this environment over those things which interested two men of the active business world like themselves.
"George," he announced, "I've been thinking."
"Have you, now?" interjected that burdened young man, forced to be gay lest he reveal the
