'She has none,' said she, with a snap as if she were shutting up a safe

with a spring lock.

'That depends on what you call a fortune,' answered the Greek coolly.

'In Paris most people would think it quite enough. It is true that it

is in litigation.' 'I really cannot see how that can interest you,' said Mrs. Rushmore in

an offended tone.

'It interests me a good deal. I have come to see you in order to

propose that you should compromise the suit about that invention.' Mrs. Rushmore drew herself up against the straight back of the garden

chair and glared at him in polite wrath.

'You will pardon my saying that I consider your interferences very much

out of place, sir,' she said.

'But you will forgive me, dear madam, for differing with you,' said

Logotheti with the utmost blandness. 'This business concerns me quite

as much as Miss Donne.' 'You?' Mrs. Rushmore was amazed.

'I fancy you have heard that Mr. Alvah Moon has sold the invention to a

New York syndicate.' 'Yes--but----' 'I am the syndicate.' 'You!' The good lady was breathless with astonishment. 'I cannot

believe it,' she gasped.

Logotheti's hand went to his inner breast pocket.

'Should you like to see the telegrams?' he asked quietly. 'Here they

are. My agent's cable to me, my instructions to him, his

acknowledgment, his cable saying that the affair is closed and the

money paid. They are all here. Pray look at them.' Mrs. Rushmore looked at the papers, for she was cautious, even when

surprised. There was no denying the evidence he showed her. Her hands

fell upon her knees and she stared at him.

'So you have got control of all that Margaret can ever hope to have of

her own,' she said blankly, at last. 'Why have you done it?' Logotheti smiled as he put the flimsy bits of paper into his pocket

again.

'Purely as a matter of business,' he answered. 'I shall make money by

it, though I have paid Mr. Moon a large sum, and expect to make a heavy

payment to you if we agree to compromise the old suit, which, as you

have seen by the telegrams, I have assumed with my eyes open. Now, my

dear Mrs. Rushmore, shall we talk business? I am very anxious to oblige

you, and I am not fond of bargaining. I propose to pay a lump sum on

condition that you withdraw the suit at once. You pay your lawyers and

I pay those employed by Mr. Moon. Now, what sum do you think would be

fair? That is the question. Please understand that it is you who will

be doing me a favour, not I who offer to do you a service. As I

understand it, you never claimed of Mr. Moon the whole value of the

invention. It was a suit in equity brought on the ground that Mr. Moon

had paid a derisory price for what he got, in other words--but is Mr.

Moon a personal friend of yours, apart from his business?' 'A friend!' cried Mrs. Rushmore in horror. 'Goodness gracious, no!' 'Very well,' continued Logotheti. 'Then we will say that he cheated

Miss Donne's maternal grandfather--is that the relationship? Yes. Very

good. I propose to hand over to you the sum out of which Miss Donne's

maternal grandfather was cheated. If you will tell me just how much it

was, allowing a fair interest, I will write you a cheque. I think I

have a blank one here.' He produced a miniature card-case of pale blue morocco, which exactly

matched his tie, and drew from it a blank cheque carefully folded to

about the size of two postage stamps.




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