You know as well as I do that they are only collateral trust, and that the stock underneath never could and never can earn a par dividend.

Now,' I said, 'Mr.Tomlinson, tell me what all that means ?' Would you believe it, the fellow looked me right in the face in that queer way he has and he said, 'I don't know!'" "He said he didn't know!" repeated the listener, in a tone of amazement and respect.

"By Jove! eh?
he said he didn't know! The man's a wizard!" "And he looked as if he didn't!" went on Mr.Fyshe.

"That's the deuce of it.

That man when he wants to can put on a look, sir, that simply means nothing, absolutely nothing." In this way Tomlinson had earned his name of the Wizard of American Finance.
And meantime Tomlinson and his wife, within their suite at the Grand Palaver, had long since reached their decision.