Page 34 (1/2)

Ha better than

a crystal paper-weight, which looked too valuable to risk

"'Couturière,'" he said acidly, "is French for 'dresse which I have always carefully

avoided I will say no more--you mean well, Ham"

Thereafter followed a volley of inquiries, punctuated at intervals by

genial ceremony, for Bones would rise from his chair, walk solemnly

round the desk, and as solemnly shake hands with his former superior

"Now, Bones," said Ha?"

Bones shrugged his shoulders

"Business," he said briefly "A deal now and again, dear old officer

Make a thousand or so one week, lose a hundred or so the next"

"But what are you doing?" persisted Haed, but with more emphasis

"I suppose," he confessed, with a show of self-deprecation which his

sness belied, "I suppose I am one of those jolly old spiders who sit

in the centre of ers

who sit infor victi with his ivory

paper-knife--"but one must live In the City one preys upon other

ones"

"Do the other ones do any preying at all?" asked Hamilton

Up went Bones's eyebrows

"They try," he said tersely, and with coramophone, but I had a look at it As I