“And he said they were shrimps,” said Mrs Van Heldre.
“Eh? I did?” said Uncle Luke with a grim look and a twinkle of the eye. “Nonsense, it must have been you.”
“Look here, Luke Vine,” said Van Heldre; “is it any use to try and teach you at your time of life?”
“Not a bit; so don’t try.”
“But why expose yourself to all this trouble and risk? Why didn’t your broker send you a cheque?”
“Because I wouldn’t let him.”
“Why not have a banking account, and do all your money transactions in an ordinary way?”
“Because I like to do things in my own way. I don’t trust bankers, nor anybody else.”
“Except my husband,” said Mrs Van Heldre, beaming.
“Nonsense, ma’am, I don’t trust him a bit. You do as I tell you, Van. Put those notes in your safe till I ask you for them. I had that bit of money in a company I doubted, so I sold out. I shall put it in something else soon.”