ous noises, trying to conceal the fact that he had a heart, and making a great fuss of getting back on a businesslike basis.
This was by far the longest speech Dudley had ever heard his usually laconic uncle make to anybody. Having made it, the financier, greatly perturbed at his own garrulity, turned abruptly back to the papers on his desk without paying any further attention to his nephew. Dudley stood uncertainly for a moment, then said, "Thank you for your interest, Uncle Sanford. I think you have the right idea. And I'll be on my way immediately."
"Telephone Chartres that the final papers will be ready for him in the morning. You might take them up to the Biltmore yourself," said Sanford Drake without looking up. "And good luck."
There was a florist around the corner on Exchange Place and, after ringing Chartres, Dudley hurried directly there. He ordered a huge bouquet of red and white roses and lilies of the valley to be telegraphed out to Hedgewood and promised all sorts of disaster to the fussy little Italian proprietor if he did not see that they reached their destination that afternoon.
At his bank Dudley had to stand in line for ten precious minutes. Moreover, owing to the size of the new account he wanted to open, he
