“How?”

“Through an old banker-friend of mine—Sir Oliver Dawtry. Down Hatton Garden way and throughout the City he has enormous interests. And I should say he could place your pearls—if anyone could!”

“Do you think he’d be bothered?”

“That I’ll undertake.”

“Does he live in town?”

“In a sense: he has a large house in the Poultry.”

“Of course I should be willing to show him my pearls.”

“Sir Oliver is offering me a little dinner to-night. And I should be happy for you to join us.”

“Oh?... I think I scarcely dare!”

“Rubbish. One must be bolder than that if one means to get on!”