CHAPTER VI.
LORD STRANLEIGH ON GUARD
"I'm going to take the rest-cure," announced Stranleigh. "This 'back to the land' theory is all very well so long as you don't practise it."
"Do you regret, then, your experiment with the phalanstery?" said Blake. "It did cost a lot of money."
"Oh, money!" cried Stranleigh, with a grimace. "I've just had a report this morning from my man of business in London that has quite discouraged me."
The secretary looked up, an expression of disquiet on his face. The financial affairs of his lordship were completely out of Mr. Blake's range, but he knew that Stranleigh had been spending the coin in a most lavish manner, and this sort of thing could not be continued indefinitely without disaster. Blake's position was a most lucrative one, and he
164
