addressed to you by Miss Meredyth, which I sent on to you at Harrogate."

"Must have got there after I left. I never had it--go on!"

"Lady Linden urges you to do something for the young lady, and do all in
your power to bring her and Mr. Alston together. She says if you could
effect a surprise meeting between them, good may come of it. She is
under the impression that they will not meet intentionally. Miss
Meredyth's address is, 7 Bemrose Square, and Mr. Alston is staying at
The Northborough Hotel, St. James. Of course, there is a good deal
besides in the letter, General--"

"Of course!" the General said. "There always is. Well, Hudson, we must
do something. I knew the girl's father, and the boy's too. Tom Meredyth
was a fine fellow, reckless and a spendthrift, by George! but as
straight a man and as true a gentleman as ever walked. And old George
Alston was one of my best friends, Hudson. We must do something for
these two young idiots."

"Very good, sir!" said Hudson. "How shall we proceed?"

The General did not answer; he sat deep in thought.

"Hudson, I am getting to be a forgetful old fool," he said. "I'm getting
old, that's what it is. Before I went to Harrogate I was with Rankin, my
solicitor. He was talking to me about the Meredyths. I forget exactly
what it was, but there's some money coming to the girl from Bob
Meredyth, who went out to Australia. No, I forget, but some money I
know, and now the girl apparently wants it, if she is asking for
influence to get work. Go and ring Rankin up on the telephone. Don't