“Ida would have come along if I’d let her,” he explained. “I felt, however, I’d better make things clear to you before you saw her. We’ll go straight to Wannop’s office and have a little talk.”
It did not take Wannop long to explain the situation; and when he judiciously left Weston and Stirling alone together, the latter smiled at his companion.
“Well,” he said, “as the specimens we have just been handling seem quite as rich as the last lot, it’s evident that your share in the Grenfell will keep you comfortable, and, as far as I’m concerned, there’s no reason why you and Ida should not set up housekeeping as soon as you like. Now, it’s my intention to hand her a block of the Grenfell stock as part of her wedding present, on condition that she takes your advice as to what she does with it. I’d just like to suggest that you make the people who want that stock subscribe quite smartly, and then let them off. It’s not wise to push a beaten enemy too far.”
Weston, who agreed with this, expressed his thanks and then asked a question.
“Wannop mentioned one lot of six hundred shares. Where did you get those?”
“They were thrown on the market by an English holder. I believe you gave some stock to friends over there?”
“I did. On condition that they didn’t sell without consulting me.”
“Then it seems that somebody must have gone back on you.”
Weston’s face grew a trifle flushed.
“I think,” he said, “we’ll let that subject drop altogether. It’s a rather painful one.”