“Modesty always was your besetting sin,” remarked Tommy.

“Don’t rag. Look here, Tommy, shall we really? Shall we form a business partnership?”

“Form a company for the stealing of diamond necklaces?”

“That was only an illustration. Let’s have a⁠—what do you call it in bookkeeping?”

“Don’t know. Never did any.”

“I have⁠—but I always got mixed up, and used to put credit entries on the debit side, and vice versa⁠—so they fired me out. Oh, I know⁠—a joint venture! It struck me as such a romantic phrase to come across in the middle of musty old figures. It’s got an Elizabethan flavour about it⁠—makes one think of galleons and doubloons. A joint venture!”

“Trading under the name of the Young Adventurers, Ltd. ? Is that your idea, Tuppence?”