"What do you mean?"
"What I say. Get into the market before the rush begins, and--ah! you might take what some people would call a snug little fortune in less than a couple of hours. Mr Coventry, I am going up to town at once. Come with me, and I will put you in the way of doing the best day's business that ever you did in all your life."
Mr Coventry went up to town with Mr Gainsford. When the young gentleman returned that night to Brighton, he was quite a man of means. On the return journey he just got into the station as the train was starting. He made a dash at the first carriage he could reach. He was settling himself in the corner, and the train was rapidly quickening, when a voice saluted him.
"Mr Coventry!"
He turned. At the other end of the compartment was Mrs Murphy.
"How nice! I was just thinking that I was going to have the carriage all to myself, and you know that I am not fond of my own society."
At that moment, Mr Coventry could not have even hinted that he was fond of hers. The lady went on--her volubility was famous,--
"I have been dabbling on the Stock Exchange."
Mr Coventry did not heed her. He was reflecting that the train did not stop till it reached its journey's end, and how about a smoke on the way? Her next words, however, caused him to prick up his ears.
"I have done wonderfully well. In fact, I have made what to some, less fortunately circumstanced than myself, would be quite a fortune. I have been buying Ceruleans. Do you know what Ceruleans are?"