have it just now. Don't let us meet for the present." Will shrugged
his shoulders, and tried to forget all about the affair.

He did not see Sherwood, but had a note from him written in high
spirits. Applegarth would be in town two days hence, and all three
were to dine at his hotel. Having no occupation, Warburton spent
most of his time in walking about London; but these rambles did not
give him the wonted pleasure, and though at night he was very tired,
he did not sleep well. An inexplicable nervousness interfered with
all his habits of mind and body He was on the point of running down
to St. Neots, to get through the last day of intolerable idleness,
when the morning post again brought a letter from Sherwood.

"Confound the fellow!" he muttered, as he tore open the envelope.
"What else can he have to say? No infernal postponement, I hope--"

He read the first line and drew himself up like a man pierced with
pain.

"My dear Warburton"--thus wrote his partner, in a hand less
legible than of wont--"I have such bad news for you that I hardly
know how to tell it. If I dared, I would come to you at once, but I
simply have not the courage to face you until you know the worst,
and have had time to get accustomed to it. It is seven o'clock; an
hour ago I learnt that all our money is lost--all yours, all that
from St. Neots, all mine--every penny I have. I have been guilty
of unpardonable folly--how explain my behaviour? The truth is,
after the settlement in Little Ailie Street; I found myself much
worse off than I had expected. I went into the money market, and
made a successful deal. Counting on being able to repeat this, I