Accordingly he sent instructions to sell another lot of shares.
He was very busy the next day when a telegram was brought him, but he sat still for some minutes considering it.

The market, it stated, had suddenly fallen flat, and as prices were giving way sharply, further orders were requested.

The change Herbert had foreseen had come a little sooner than he had expected.

He still held some shares, which he had thought of keeping, because it might, after all, prove judicious to retain a degree of control in the company, and having sold the rest at a good profit, a moderate fall in their value would be of less consequence.

The drop, however, was marked, and he decided to further reduce the quantity standing in his name, instead of realizing those belonging to his cousin.