"He means me," added Draymore, offering his hand; "good-bye, Captain Selwyn; I dare say we are up against it hard."
"Because we've got to buy in that property or close up the Siowitha," added Mottly, coming over to make his adieux. "By the way, Selwyn, you ought to be one of us in the Siowitha—"
"Thank you, but isn't this rather an awkward time to suggest it?" said Selwyn good-humouredly.
Fane burst into a sonorous laugh and wagged his neck, saying: "Not at all! Not at all! Your reward for having the decency to stay out of the deal is an invitation from us to come in and be squeezed into a jelly by Mr. Neergard. Haw! Haw!"
And so, one by one, with formal or informal but evidently friendly leave-taking, they went away. And Selwyn followed them presently, walking until he took the Subway at Forty-second Street for his office.
As he entered the elaborate suite of rooms he noticed some bright new placards dangling from the walls of the general office, and halted to read them:
"WHY PAY RENT!
What would you say if we built a house for you in Beautiful Siowitha Park and gave you ten years to pay for it!
If anybody says
YOU ARE A FOOL!
to expect this, refer him to us and we will answer him according to his folly.