dipping into his little fish-pond. However, when I
passed I thought my best move was to come down to the old
place, and see whether I couldn't piece the thing
together again. The name ought to be worth something, I
thought. But it was no use doing the thing in a half
hearted way. Not a bit of use in that, Munro. The kind
of people who came to him were wealthy, and must see a
fine house and a man in livery. What chance was
there of gathering them into a bow-windowed forty pound-
a-year house with a grubby-faced maid at the door? What
do you suppose I did? My boy, I took the governor's old
house, that was unlet--the very house that he kept up at
five thousand a year. Off I started in rare style, and
sank my last cent in furniture. But it's no use, laddie.
I can't hold on any longer. I got two accidents and an
epileptic--twenty-two pounds, eight and sixpence--that's
the lot!

"What will you do, then?"

"That's what I wanted your advice about. That's why
I wired for you. I always respected your opinion, my
boy, and I thought that now was the time to have it."

It struck me that if he had asked for it nine months
before there would have been more sense in it. What on
earth could I do when affairs were in such a tangle?
However, I could not help feeling complimented when so
independent a fellow as Cullingworth turned to me in this
way.