would not be a burden upon those who care for me. No, I 'll give up
going to Paris and find some work to do."

"Frank, Frank, be silent. This is nonsense, Give up your art? You shall
not do it. You shall go to Paris as usual. Leslie and I have perfect
faith in you. You shall not give up on account of this misfortune. What
are the few paltry dollars to me or to you?"

"Nothing, nothing, I know. It is n't the money, it 's the principle of
the thing."

"Principle be hanged! You go back to Paris to-morrow, just as you had
planned. I do not ask it, I command it."

The younger man looked up quickly.

"Pardon me, Frank, for using those words and at such a time. You know
how near my heart your success lies, and to hear you talk of giving it
all up makes me forget myself. Forgive me, but you 'll go back, won't
you?"

"You are too good, Maurice," said Frank impulsively, "and I will go
back, and I 'll try to redeem myself."

"There is no redeeming of yourself to do, my dear boy; all you have to
do is to mature yourself. We 'll have a detective down and see what we
can do in this matter."

Frank gave a scarcely perceptible start. "I do so hate such things," he
said; "and, anyway, what 's the use? They 'll never find out where the