CHAPTER I 

The Marchioness of Amesbury was giving a garden party in the spacious but somewhat urban grounds of her mansion in Kensington. Perhaps because it was the first affair of its sort of the season, and perhaps, also, because Cecilia Amesbury had the knack of making friends in every walk of life, it was remarkably well attended. Two stockbrokers, Roger Kendrick and his friend Maurice White, who had escaped from the City a little earlier than usual, and had shared a taxicab up west, congratulated themselves upon having found a quiet and shady seat where iced drinks were procurable and the crush was not so great. 

"Anything doing in your market to-day?" Kendrick asked his younger associate. 

White made a little grimace. 

"B. & I., B. & I., all the time," he grumbled. "I'm sick of the name of the damned things. And to tell you the truth, Ken, when a client asks for my advice about them, I don't know what to say." 

Kendrick contemplated the tips of his patent boots. He was a well-looking, well-turned-out and well-to-do representative of the occupation which he, his father and grandfather had followed,--ten years older, perhaps, than his companion, but remarkably well-preserved. He had made money and kept it. 

"They say that Rockefeller's at the back of them," he remarked. 

"They may say what they like but who's to prove it?" his young companion argued. "They must have enormous backing, of course, but until they declare it, I'm not pushing the business. Look at the Board on their merits, Ken." 
Who was hosting a celebration?
What kind?
Where?
Had there been similar events recently?
Where there many people there?
How did the stock traders arrive?
Where did they come from?
Were they sitting in a crowded area?
What was the younger man's name?
And the other?
What was the younger man tired of?
Did he have good advice for his clients?
What article of clothing was the older man looking at?
Was he a poor man?
Was he the first in his family to do this work?
Who had preceded him?
What was the age difference between the two men?
Had the older man squandered his earnings?
Who did he think was behind stuff?
Did the younger man accept this as certain?
The Marchioness of Amesbury
The Marchioness of Amesbury was giving a garden party
a garden party
The Marchioness of Amesbury was giving a garden party 
Kensington
The Marchioness of Amesbury was giving a garden party in the spacious but somewhat urban grounds of her mansion in Kensington
No
Perhaps because it was the first affair of its sort of the season
Yes
it was remarkably well attended.
taxicab
Two stockbrokers, Roger Kendrick and his friend Maurice White, who had escaped from the City a little earlier than usual, and had shared a taxicab up west
the City
Two stockbrokers, Roger Kendrick and his friend Maurice White, who had escaped from the City
No
congratulated themselves upon having found a quiet and shady seat 
Maurice White
Roger Kendrick and his friend Maurice White, who had escaped from the City a little earlier than usual, and had shared a taxicab up west, congratulated themselves upon having found a quiet and shady seat where iced drinks were procurable and the crush was not so great. 

"Anything doing in your market to-day?" Kendrick asked his younger associate.
Roger Kendrick
Roger Kendrick and his friend Maurice White
the name of the damned things
 "I'm sick of the name of the damned things.
No
 And to tell you the truth, Ken, when a client asks for my advice about them, I don't know what to say." 
boots
Kendrick contemplated the tips of his patent boots. 
No
He was a well-looking, well-turned-out and well-to-do representative
No
the occupation which he, his father and grandfather had followed,
his father
he, his father
ten years
-ten years older
No
He had made money and kept it. 
Rockefeller
"They say that Rockefeller's at the back of them," he remarked. 
No
"They may say what they like but who's to prove it?" his young companion argued.