"Had George any shares in your company?" she asked.
There was no way of avoiding a reply, without arousing her suspicions;
Herbert knew that she was keen-witted and persistent.
"Yes," he said, "he had a quantity."
"Have those shares been sold?"
This was a more troublesome question, but Herbert was compelled to answer.
"No; not yet. It's unfortunate that the market broke before I could get rid of them, but it may rally. I'm rather disturbed about the matter; but, after all, one has to take one's chance in buying shares. Dealing in the speculative sorts is to a large extent a game of hazard."
"I suppose so, but then somebody must win."
"No," returned Herbert, "now and then everybody loses."
Sylvia glanced at him with a mocking smile.
"Even those in the inside ring? When that happens, it must be something like a catastrophe. But I'm sorry for George; he doesn't deserve this."