Sunday morning he was again face to face with the last half-crown. He laid
out his money very cautiously that day, but when he had paid for a frugal
dinner at a cheap coffee-shop, he had only a shilling left. He wandered
into Kensington Gardens that Sunday afternoon, wondering what he had best
do next. And as he stood by the railings of the ornamental water, watching
the water-fowls' doings, somebody bade him good-day, and he turned to find
the pretty girl of the pawnshop standing at his side and smiling shyly at
him.



CHAPTER THREE


THE DEAD MAN

Lauriston was thinking about Zillah at the very moment in which she spoke
to him: the memory of her dark eyes and the friendly smile that she had
given him as he left the pawnshop had come as a relief in the midst of his
speculations as to his immediate future. And now, as he saw her real self,
close to him, evidently disposed to be friendly, he blushed like any girl,
being yet at that age when shyness was still a part of his character.
Zillah blushed too--but she was more self-possessed than Lauriston.

"I've been talking to my Cousin Melky about you," she said quickly. "Or,
rather, he's been talking to me. He says he's going to introduce you to a
man who wants his catalogue put in shape--for five pounds. Don't you do it
for five pounds! I know that man--charge him ten!"

Lauriston moved away with her down the walk.