"Lucy," he said, "is it true that you have
sold that stock .'^^

He heard her give a gasp. "Answer me!"
he cried.
"Allan," she began, "you are going to be
angry with me — "

"Please answer me !" he cried again. "Have
you sold that stock?"

"Yes, Allan," she said, "I didn't mean — "

"I don't care to discuss the matter on the
telephone," he said. "I will stop in to see you
this afternoon on my way home. Please be in,
because it is important." And then he hung
up the receiver.
He called at the time he had set, and Lucy
was waiting for him. She looked pale, and
very much distressed. She sat in a chair, and
neither arose to greet him nor spoke to him,
but simply gazed into his face.
94 THE MONEYCHANGERS

It was a very sombre face. "This thing has
given me a great deal of pain," said Montague ;
"and I don't want to prolong it any more than
necessary, I have thought the matter over,
and my mind is made up, so there need be no
discussion. It wilji not be possible for me to
have anything further to do with your affairs."

Lucy gave a gasp: "Oh, Allan!"

He had a valise containing all her papers. "I
have brought everjrthing up to date," he said.
"There are all the accounts, and the correspond-
ence. Anyone will be able to find exactly how
things stand."

"Allan," she said, "this is really cruel."

"I am very sorry," he answered, "but there
is nothing else that I can do."

"But did I not have a right to sell that stock
to Stanley Ryder?" she cried.
