him. I guess that'll make him want to buy the world in earnest. Why, he'll go crazy about buying it now that it has been suggested. Well, I'm sure. Lord Keynes, it's just too nice of you to give me that. I shall laugh myself sick over it. I always tell everyone that you are the kindest man I ever saw. Gracious, it's half after nine! We must go at once. I'll be down with you in a moment, but I must give this to my maid to be packed in my jewel-case.'
Mrs. Palmer looked at it again as she rose, gave another shrill scream, and vanished, leaving her two guests alone.
Charlie Brancepeth moved his chair a little sideways to the table as he sat down again, crossed his legs, and took a cigarette from his case.
' If you had asked her a hundred pounds for it, she would have given it you, Bertie,' he remarked.
Bertie Keynes raised his eyebrows a shade.
' A hundred pounds is always welcome, Charlie,' he said, without a shadow or hint of comment in his voice. In fact, the neutrality of his tone was too marked to be in the least degree natural.
Charlie did not reply for a moment, but blew thoughtfully on the lighted end of his cigarette.
' Why this sudden—this sudden suppression of the mercantile spirit?' he asked.
Bertie laughed.
' Don't trouble to be more offensive than is necessary to your reasonable comfort,' he remarked with some finish.
' I am not; I should have been in considerable pain if I hadn't said that. But why this suppression?'
Bertie delayed answering long enough to upset the salt with his elbow, and look reproachfully at the waiter for having done so.
' There isn't any suppression,' he said at length. ' The mercantile spirit is going strong. Stronger than ever. Damn!'
