The million pound banknote

'The fact is, Lloyd, That things are about the same for both you and I. I can't really understand it myself.'

'Dear me, it is amazing, isn't it? Why,just three months ago we went to the What Cheer restaurant - went there at two in the morning. We had a meal and coffee because we had been working hard for six hours over those papers. I tried to persuade you to come to London with me. I offered to get you permission to be away from your job and pay all your expenses, and give you something extra if I succeeded in making the sale. You would not listen to me. You said I wouldn't succeed, and you couldn't afford to lose business and it would take you a long time to get the hang of things again when you got back home. And yet here you are. How odd it all is! How did it happen that you came after all, and whatever gave you this incredible start?

'Oh, just an accident. It's a long story - a romance, one may say. I'll tell you all about it, but only at the end of this month. But how is your business going?'

His cheerfulness vanished like a breath, and he said with a sigh: You were a true prophet, Hal, a true prophet. I wish I hadn't come. I don't want to talk about it.'

'But I want to hear the whole story, every word.'