anxious that I should attend to any special matter, you'll always find
me here till one o'clock. You know my private address?"

"Yes, sir."

"That's all right. And when I go down to my country place for the
summer, you can come there whenever your business is urgent. I'll settle
all expenses with you."

"Thank you, Sir Francis. Good-day!"

"Good-day! A pleasant holiday to you!"

Benson bowed his respectful thanks again, and retired.

Sir Francis Vesey, left alone, took his hat and gazed abstractedly into
its silk-lined crown before putting it on his head. Then setting it
aside, he drew Helmsley's letter from his pocket and read it through
again. It ran as follows:--

"MY DEAR VESEY,--I had some rather bad news on the night of Miss
Lucy Sorrel's birthday party. A certain speculation in which I had
an interest has failed, and I have lost on the whole 'gamble.' The
matter will not, however, affect my financial position. You have all
your instructions in order as given to you when we last met, so I
shall leave town with an easy mind. I am likely to be away for some
time, and am not yet certain of my destination. Consider me,
therefore, for the present as lost. Should I die suddenly, or at
sickly leisure, I carry a letter on my person which will be conveyed
to you, making you acquainted with the sad (?) event as soon as it