But——!

Dunning.

[To Roope.] My good sir, in the whole of our experience—mine and Mr. Sillitoe's—we've never come across a neater bit of hankey-pankey—[to Philip] no offence—and if Merrifield hadn't smelt a rat——

Roope.

But—but—but—the cost of it all, my dear Mr. Dunning! I don't know much about these things—the expense of manufacturing many thousands of copies of Mr. Mackworth's new book——!

Sir Randle.

[Alertly.] Quite so! Surely, if we were to be deceived, a simpler method could have been found——?

Roope.

[With energy.] Besides, what has Mr. Titterton to gain by the deception?

Sir Randle.