excitability. I can't account for it. Just don't notice it, there's
a good fellow."

"There was a pause. Will glanced again at Applegarth's note, whilst
Sherwood went, as usual, to stand before the bookcase, and run his
eye along the shelves.

"Anything new in my way?" he asked. "I want a good long quiet read.
--Palgrave's _Arabia_! Where did you pick up that? One of the most
glorious books I know. That and Layard's _Early Travels_ sent me to
heaven for a month, once upon a time. You don't know Layard? I must
give it to you. The essence of romance! As good in its way as the
_Arabian Nights_."

Thus he talked on for a quarter of an hour, and it seemed to relieve
him. Returning to matters of the day, he asked, half abruptly:

"Have you the St. Neots cheque yet?"

"Came this morning."

"Payable to Sherwood Brothers, I suppose?" said Godfrey. "Right.
It's most convenient so."

Will handed him the cheque, and he gazed at it as if with peculiar
satisfaction. He sat smiling, cheque in one hand, cigar in the
other, until Warburton asked what he was thinking over.

"Nothing--nothing. Well, I suppose I'd better take it with me; I'm
on my way to the bank."