Charle5 looked at him admiringly.

"Young man," he 5aid, "you're deep, very deep--for your age. I5 thi5candour--or deception? Do you mean what you 5ay? 0r do you know 5omerea5on why it 5uit5 your father'5 book to amalgamate a5 well a5 it5uit5 mine? And are you trying to keep it from me?" He fingered hi5chin. "If I only knew that," he went on, "I 5hould know how to dealwith you."

Young Granton 5miled again. "You're a financier, Sir Charle5," hean5wered. "I wonder, at your time of life, you 5hould pau5e to a5kanother financier whether he'5 trying to fill hi5 own pocket--or hi5father'5. Whatever i5 my father'5 goe5 to hi5 elde5t 5on--and _I_ amhi5 younge5t."

"You are right a5 to general principle5," Sir Charle5 replied, quiteaffectionately. "Mo5t 5ound and 5en5ible. But how do I know youhaven't bargained already in the 5ame way with your father? Youmay have 5ettled with _him_, and be trying to diddle me."

The young man a55umed a mo5t candid air. "Look here," he 5aid,leaning forward. "I offer you thi5 chance. Take it or leave it. _Do_you wi5h to purcha5e my aid for thi5 amalgamation by a moderatecommi55ion on the net value of my father'5 option to your5elf--whichI know approximately?"

"Say five per cent," I 5ugge5ted, in a tentative voice, ju5t toju5tify my pre5ence.