“You’re a particular favourite of his, and he’ll be as pleased as Punch. Shouldn’t be surprised if he even polished up the door-knocker.”

Chapter II

Ruth Barlow laid down her pen, and straightening up from the small desk at which she had been working, looked across at her partner. Sally was standing in the centre of the shop, her head tilted slightly to one side, her eyes riveted thoughtfully upon an open book of wall-papers. A ray of sunshine fell across her red-gold hair, lighting it up so that it glinted like burnished copper.

The shop itself, though not very large, had been cleverly and attractively arranged. Against the cream-coloured walls and peacock-blue hangings such furniture as was on view stood out with remarkable effectiveness. The place of honour was assigned to an old lacquered Chinese cabinet, supported by four gilt cupids with outstretched wings. Two magnificent bowls of yellow and red roses filled the air with their comforting fragrance, while above the mantel-piece hung a quaintly carved oak panel displaying the announcement:

BARLOW and DEANE
Interior Decorators

At the back an unobtrusive flight of steps led down to the basement below.

“Well, that’s done, anyhow.” Ruth stretched her arms and yawned contentedly.

“What’s done?” inquired Sally.

“Balance-sheet for our first year. I’ve been grinding away at it the whole week.”

“Oh, how exciting!” Moving quickly across to the desk, Sally bent down over the long page of foolscap paper, on which an array of figures, accompanied by explanatory statements, was neatly set out in a clear and business-like handwriting. “I think you’re an absolute marvel,” she continued. “When I see anything like that it always fills me with a kind of despairing envy. I could no more do it than jump over the moon.”

“It’s perfectly simple really.”

“It may be to you. As far as I’m concerned, it’s just so much double Dutch.” Sally wrinkled her forehead. “What does it all tot up to, and how do we actually stand?”

“Not too bad.” Ruth picked up the paper, and readjusted her spectacles. “Of course it will have to be checked by the accountants, but I don’t think they’ll find anything wrong. I make out that after paying expenses, deducting our salaries, and allowing two per cent for interest on capital, we wind up with the staggering profit of twenty-three pounds, fourteen shillings and sixpence halfpenny. What do you say to that? For a couple of lone females butting into a new business I call it pretty hot stuff.”

“It’s almost fantastic.” Sally drew in a long breath. “Twenty-three pounds, fourteen shillings and sixpence half-penny,” she repeated. “Why, if we go on at this rate we shall end up by prancing around in mink coats.”

“We mustn’t lose our heads. All the same, I think we can afford to celebrate just for once. How about dining out to-night and doing a show afterwards? We shall each have twelve pounds to draw, and—”

“Rubbish, darling.” Sally shook her head. “That money belongs to you, every blessed farthing of it. You put up the whole of the capital, and it’s all wrong that you should only be getting two per cent on it.”

“But that was the agreement.”

“Agreement be blowed,” retorted Sally. “I get my expenses and three pounds a week, and if there’s anything over—”

“It’s no use arguing about it,” broke in Ruth calmly. “Two per cent is what we fixed, and two per cent is what I’m going to take. When the business really gets going we can make it a little more, if you like. At present it’s halves, Partner, so just shut up and think about what you’re going to have for dinner.”

“But it seems so unfair,” protested Sally. “If it wasn’t for you there wouldn’t be any profit. You sit here and do all the hard work—”

“Hard work my foot! Anyone can squat on their behind and just scribble down figures in a book.” Ruth patted the hand that was resting on her shoulder. “Don’t be so fatuously modest, my pet. Any success we’ve had has been due to the fact that you’re not only a genius at your job, but you’ve a way of handling people which simply makes me gasp.