"I have but five shillings and sixpence in all the world."

He laughed aloud at this.

"I can advance you whatever you like, then--five hundred pounds or
more."

The very mention of such a sum positively frightened me. Mr. Moreland
looked very much amused.

"It will be some time," he said, "before you grow accustomed to ten
thousand a year."

At that moment we were interrupted by the arrival of another client. I
rose to take my leave, with a check for three hundred pounds in my hand.

"You will go down to Crown Anstey to-night?" said Mr. Moreland, as he
shook hands with me. "We shall be there to-morrow morning. You will make
what arrangements seem best to you over the funeral."

So I went away, the most bewildered man in London. As I re-entered the
office I felt ashamed of my suspicions over my fellow-clerks. They were
all busy, while I--oh, heaven! could it be true?

Mr. Lawson evidently thought I had been drinking when I went, white and
stammering, confused and hesitating, into his room. He looked very
sternly at me.

"What do you want, Mr. Trevelyan? I am very busy."