“To begin with, you had better tell me why you want so large a sum.”

Gerald hesitated and his eyelids twitched nervously, but he pulled himself together and Thorn wondered how far he would stick to the truth.  He knew Gerald and did not trust him.

“Very well; I bought some shares.  There was good ground for expecting they’d go up—­”

“They went down?  When did you buy?”

“Your meaning’s plain,” said Gerald sullenly.  “If you insist, it was before I wrote home.”

“I suspected something like that.  However, you have the shares and they may go up again.”

“I haven’t got the shares.  I bought on a margin, and the margin’s gone.”

“Then, you’re rasher than I thought,” Thorn rejoined with a searching look.  “Well, you have lost your money and it’s something of a surprise to hear you had so much.  Anyhow, it was yours, and although the loss is serious, I don’t understand how you’re embarrassed.”

“I borrowed,” said Gerald, rather hoarsely.  “You can wait; the other fellow won’t.  Then, of course, if I renewed the margin, the shares might recover and put me straight.”

Thorn pondered.  Gerald’s statement was plausible, but he doubted if he had told him all.

“Two thousand pounds is a large sum,” he said.  “I don’t know yet if I can lend it you.”

Gerald gave him a steady look.  His face was haggard and the sweat ran down his forehead.  It was obvious that he was desperate.

“If you hope to marry my sister, you had better help me out.”

“I haven’t much ground for thinking your sister will agree,” Thorn rejoined with some dryness.  “Anyhow, it’s doubtful if your influence would go far with her, if that is what you mean.”

“It is not what I mean,” Gerald answered in a hoarse voice.  “I have given you a useful hint.  You can spare two thousand pounds, and if you let me have the money, you’ll be glad you did.”

“I must think about it.  You can call me up on the telephone at noon to-morrow.”

Gerald hesitated, and then made an abrupt movement as a man came into the room.  The latter crossed the floor and Gerald got up.

“Very well,” he said, and went off.

Soon after Gerald had gone, the man Thorn had met in the hall came in and he asked:  “Do you know anything about Ermentrudes, Norton?  I suppose they’re mining shares?”

“I wouldn’t advise you to invest,” the other replied.  “The company has seldom paid a dividend, but not long since a rumor got about that a new shaft had bottomed on rich ore.”  He paused and shrugged.  “Nobody knows how such tales are started, but they appeal to optimistic outsiders who like to think they’ve got a secret tip.  Anyhow, there was some reckless buying by people who expected developments at the shareholders’ meeting.  They were disappointed, and are knocking prices down by their anxiety to sell out.”