for life." His fingers fumbled with the string for two or three
seconds, but presently faltered. "You come to me to-morrow," he went
on, with another mysterious wink, "and I'll show you something.
Up the hill, past Market Strand, till you come to a signboard,
'G. Goodfellow. Funerals Furnished'--first turning to the right down
the court, and knock three times."

Here he whipped the parcel back into his pocket, picked up his
compasses, and made transparent pretence to be occupied in measuring
distances as Captain Branscome came down the stairs from the garret.

Captain Branscome gave no sign of observing his confusion, but
signalled to me to step outside with him into the alley, where he
pressed an envelope into my hand. By the weight of it, I knew on the
instant that he was returning Mrs. Stimcoe's money,

"And tell her," said he, "that I will come on Monday morning at nine
o'clock as usual."

"Yes, sir."

I turned to go. I could not see his face in the gloom of the alley,
but I had caught one glimpse of it by the lamplight within, and knew
what had detained him upstairs. Honest man, he was starving, and had
been praying up there to be delivered from temptation.

"Brooks," said he, as I turned, "they tell me your father was once a
major in the Army. Is he, by chance, the same Major Brooks--Major
James Brooks, of the King's Own--I had the honour to bring home in
the _Londonderry_, after Corunna?"