bystander in return for a trifling piece of assistance. Of course, it
must have been Raffles Haw. And his sister had the note, with
instructions to return it to the owner, could he be found. He threw
aside his palette, and descending into the sitting-room he told Laura
and his father of his morning's interview with the vicar, and of his
conviction that this was the man of whom Hector was in quest.

"Tut! Tut!" said old McIntyre. "How is this, Laura? I knew nothing of
this. What do women know of money or of business? Hand the note over
to me and I shall relieve you of all responsibility. I will take
everything upon myself."

"I cannot possibly, papa," said Laura, with decision. "I should not
think of parting with it."

"What is the world coming to?" cried the old man, with his thin hands
held up in protest. "You grow more undutiful every day, Laura. This
money would be of use to me--of use, you understand. It may be the
corner-stone of the vast business which I shall re-construct. I will
use it, Laura, and I will pay something--four, shall we say, or even
four and a-half--and you may have it back on any day. And I will give
security--the security of my--well, of my word of honour."

"It is quite impossible, papa," his daughter answered coldly. "It is
not my money. Hector asked me to be his banker. Those were his very
words. It is not in my power to lend it. As to what you say, Robert,
you may be right or you may be wrong, but I certainly shall not give Mr.
Raffles Haw or anyone else the money without Hector's express command."

"You are very right about not giving it to Mr. Raffles Haw," cried old