"I am happy to meet you, Lord Stranleigh, and if you'll excuse me, I'd like to say that you are more greatly in need of advice at this moment than any man in America."
"You are perfectly right, Mr. Boscombe. I am always in need of good advice, and I appreciate it."
"An application was made to me from New York for a block of stock. That stock is not for sale, but I dallied with the brokers, made investigations, and traced the inquiry to you."
"I learn that you propose to finance Miss Constance Maturin, who is a junior partner in my business."
"I should not think of contradicting so shrewd a man as yourself, Mr. Boscombe. What do you advise in the premises?"
"I advise you to get out, and quick, too."
"If I don't, what are you going to do to me?"
"Oh, I shall do nothing. She will do all that is necessary. That woman is stark mad, Lord Stranleigh. Her own father recognised it when he bereft her of all power in the great business he founded. If she had her way, she'd ruin the company inside a year with her hare-brained schemes; love of the dear people, and that sort of guff."
"I am sorry to hear that. I noticed no dementia on the part of Miss Maturin, who seemed to me a most cultivated and very charming young lady. You will permit me, I hope, to thank you for your warning, and will not be surprised that I can give you no decision on the spur of the moment. I am a slow-minded person, and need time to think over things."
"Certainly, certainly; personally I come to sudden conclusions, and once I make up my mind, I never change it."
"A most admirable gift. I wish I possessed it."
Lord Stranleigh said nothing of this interview to Constance Maturin, beyond telling her that the acquisition of stock appeared to be hopeless, as indeed proved to be the case.
"Boscombe must be a stubborn person," he said.
"Oh, he's all that," the girl replied, with a sigh. "He cares for one thing only, the making of money, and in that I must admit he has been very successful."
"Well, we've got a little cash of our own," said Stranleigh, with a laugh.
Miss Maturin and Mrs. Vanderveldt celebrated a national holiday by the greatest entertainment ever given in that district. The mills had been shut down for a week, and every man, woman and child in the valley city had been invited up to the new town on the heights. There was a brass band, and a sumptuous spread of refreshments, all free to the immense crowd. The ladies, for days before, visited everyone in the valley, and got a promise of attendance, but to make assurance doubly sure, an amazing corps of men was organised, equipped with motor cars, which scoured the valley from Powerville downwards, gathering in such remnants of humanity as for any reason had neglected to attend the show. Miss Maturin said she was resolved this entertainment should be a feature unique in the history of the State.