Chapter 16

           February18.—Carriehasseveraltimesrecentlycalledattentiontothethinnessofmyhairatthetopofmyhead,andrecommendedmetogetitseento.Iwasthismorningtryingtolookatitbytheaidofasmallhand-glass,whensomehowmyelbowcaughtagainsttheedgeofthechestofdrawersandknockedtheglassoutofmyhandandsmashedit.Carriewasinanawfulwayaboutit,assheisratherabsurdlysuperstitious.Tomakemattersworse,mylargephotographinthedrawing-roomfellduringthenight,andtheglasscracked.

           Carriesaid:“Markmywords,Charles,somemisfortuneisabouttohappen.”

           Isaid:“Nonsense,dear.”

           IntheeveningLupinarrivedhomeearly,andseemedalittleagitated.Isaid:“What’sup,myboy?”Hehesitatedagooddeal,andthensaid:“YouknowthoseParachikkaChloratesIadvisedyoutoinvest£20in?”Ireplied:“Yes,theyareallright,Itrust?”Hereplied:“Well,no!Tothesurpriseofeverybody,theyhaveutterlycollapsed.”

           Mybreathwassocompletelytakenaway,Icouldsaynothing.Carrielookedatme,andsaid:“WhatdidItellyou?”Lupin,afterawhile,said:“However,youarespeciallyfortunate.Ireceivedanearlytip,andsoldoutyoursimmediately,andwasfortunatetoget£2forthem.Soyougetsomethingafterall.”

           Igaveasighofrelief.Isaid:“Iwasnotsosanguineastosuppose,asyoupredicted,thatIshouldgetsixoreighttimestheamountofmyinvestment;stillaprofitof£2isagoodpercentageforsuchashorttime.