'
'He never will--if you say so.'
'I say so. Now, there is six hours' difference of time between this
country and Canada, is there not?'
'About that, I think.'
'Very well; lose no time in getting the cable-message sent to him, and
tell him to answer, so that we shall be sure he is at the other end of
the wire. Then find out about the cabling of the money. I shall be back
here, I think, as soon as you are.'
With that she left the office, and, getting into her cab, was driven to
her father's place of business.
'Well, my girl,' said the old man, pushing his spectacles up on his brow,
and gazing at her, 'what is it now--some new extravagance?'
'Yes, father, some new extravagance.'
His daughter was evidently excited, and her breath came quickly. She
closed the door, and took a chair opposite her father.
'Father,' she said, 'I have been your business man, as you call me, for a
long time.'
'Yes, you have. Are you going to strike for an increase of salary?'
'Father,' she said earnestly, not heeding the jocularity of his tone,
'this is very serious. I want you to give me some money for myself--to
speculate with.'
'I will do that very gladly. How much do you want?'
The old man turned his chair round and pulled out his cheque-book.
'I want thirty thousand pounds,' she answered.
Mr. Longworth wheeled quickly round in his chair and looked at her in
astonishment.
'Thirty thousand what?'
'Thirty thousand pounds, father; and I want it now.
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