Wingate’s eyes twinkled.

“From all of which I judge that you have been discussing the British and Imperial Granaries,” he remarked.

“Our dear young friend, Miss Baldwin,” Kendrick said, “has a vivid imagination and a wonderful gift of picturesque similies.  Still, I have just been telling them that one reason why I wouldn’t touch B. & I.’s is because they have an idea over here that you are going to have a shy at them.”

“My attitude toward the company in question is certainly an unfriendly one,” Wingate admitted.  “I hate all speculations the basis of which is utterly selfish.  Dealing in foodstuffs is one of them.  But, Miss Baldwin,” he went on, turning towards her, “why do we talk finance on such a wonderful afternoon, and so far away from the City?  I really came over from the States to get an occasional cocktail, order some new clothes and see some plays.  What theatres do you advise me to go to?”

“I can tell you plenty,” she answered, “which I should advise you to stay away from.  It is quite easy to see, Mr. Wingate, that you have been away from London quite a long time.  You are not in the least in touch with us.  On the Stock Exchange they do little, nowadays, I am told, but invent stories which the members can tell only to other men’s wives, and up in the west we do little else except talk finance.  The money we used to lose at auction bridge now all goes to our brokers.  We worry the lives out of our men friends by continually craving for tips.”

“Dear me,” Wingate remarked, “I had no idea things were as bad as that.”

“Now what,” Sarah asked ingratiatingly, “is your honest opinion about British and Imperial Granaries?”

“If I gave it to you,” Wingate replied, “my opinion would be the only honest thing about it.”

“Then couldn’t one do some good by selling a bear of them?” she enquired sagely.

“You would do yourself and every one else more good by not dealing in them at all,” Wingate advised.  “The whole thing is a terrible gamble.”

“When did you arrive?” Kendrick enquired.  “Have you been in the City yet?”

Wingate shook his head.

“I have spent the last two days in the north of England,” he replied.  “I was rather interested in having a glance at conditions there.  I only arrived in London last night.”

“But this morning?” Sarah asked him.  “You don’t mean to tell me that you had strength of mind enough to keep away from the City?”

“I certainly do.  I did not even telephone to my brokers.  Kendrick here knows that, for he is one of the firm.”

“Then what did you do?” Sarah persisted, “I can’t imagine you spending your first morning in idleness.”

“You might have called it idleness; I didn’t,” he answered, smiling.  “I had my hair cut and my nails manicured; I was measured for four new suits of clothes, a certain number of shirts, and I bought some other indispensable trifles.”