To all of them he had given the same reply,--Morrison had gone abroad on private business for the firm.

Very few were deceived by Laverick's dry statement.

He was quite aware that he was looked upon either as one of the luckiest men on earth, or as a financier of consummate skill.

The failure of Laverick & Morrison had been looked upon as a certainty.

How they had tided over that twenty-four hours had been known to no one--to no one but Laverick himself and the manager of his bank.
Just before four o'clock, the telephone rang at his elbow.
"Mr.Fenwick from the bank, sir, is wishing to speak to you for a moment," his head-clerk announced.
Laverick took up the telephone.
"Yes," he said, "I am Laverick.