"Bob!" he cried, in a tone expressive of the most intense astonishment;
"I only touched British ground after dark last night, and to think that
I should meet you this morning."

"I've seen you somewhere before, my bearded friend," said Mr. Audley,
calmly scrutinizing the animated face of the other, "but I'll be hanged
if I can remember when or where."

"What!" exclaimed the stranger, reproachfully. "You don't mean to say
that you've forgotten George Talboys?"

"_No I have not!_" said Robert, with an emphasis by no means usual to
him; and then hooking his arm into that of his friend, he led him into
the shady court, saying, with his old indifference, "and now, George
tell us all about it."

George Talboys did tell him all about it. He told that very story which
he had related ten days before to the pale governess on board the
_Argus_; and then, hot and breathless, he said that he had twenty
thousand pounds or so in his pocket, and that he wanted to bank it at
Messrs. ----, who had been his bankers many years before.

"If you'll believe me, I've only just left their counting-house," said
Robert. "I'll go back with you, and we'll settle that matter in five
minutes."

They did contrive to settle it in about a quarter of an hour; and then
Robert Audley was for starting off immediately for the Crown and
Scepter, at Greenwich, or the Castle, at Richmond, where they could have