Alice and her husband were going to spend August at a French watering-place, and Mutimer proposed to join them for a fortnight; Adela of course would be of the party.

The invitation came from Rodman, who had reasons for wishing to get his brother-in-law aside for a little quiet talk.

Rodman had large views, was at present pondering a financial scheme in which he needed a partner--one with capital of course.

He knew that New Wanley was proving anything but a prosperous concern, commercially speaking; he divined, moreover, that Mutimer was not wholly satisfied with the state of affairs.

By judicious management the Socialist might even be induced to abandon the non-paying enterprise, and, though not perhaps ostensibly, embark in one that promised very different results--at all events to Mr.Rodman.The scheme was not of mushroom growth; it dated from a time but little posterior to Mr.Rodman's first meeting with Alice Mutimer.