George must take his chance; and the market might rally.

As a result of these reflections he wired his broker to sell, and in a few hours received an answer.
"_Sale effected within limit given, market since broken badly, expect slump_." Herbert saw that he had acted with prudence, though it was evident that his cousin had incurred a serious loss.

He was sorry for this, but it could not be helped.
A few days later he was sitting beside the fire at home after his evening meal when Sylvia entered the room in his wife's absence.

She stood near the hearth, examining some embroidery in her hand, but she looked up presently, and it became evident that she had been reading the papers.
"There seems to be a sharp fall in rubber shares," she said.

"Will it affect you ?" "No," replied Herbert, "not seriously." "I suppose that means you must have anticipated the fall and sold out--unloaded, I think you call it--in time ?" Herbert did not wish to discuss the matter.