“Certainly not. It’s none of Roger’s business.”

“Oh, very well,” said Miss Gale shortly, bending over her writing-pad.

It was evident that her opinion of Denham’s wisdom was steadily lowering. Suddenly, she looked up.

“How much shall I say the annual profits are? Or do you want that mentioned?”

“I—I don’t think I would mention that. You see, I don’t wish this arrangement to be carried out on a monetary basis—not altogether.”

“On what basis then?”

“Well—I can hardly say. On a personal basis, perhaps. I rather hope that the person—that my partner—would, you know, like to be associated with me.”

“On a friendly basis, do you mean?” asked Miss Gale, mercilessly.

“Certainly. Friendly, of course—and perhaps more than that.”

Miss Gale looked up at him with a certain hopelessness of expression.