over it at him out of a pair of large, black eyes. For a moment the two
gazed at each other, in silence.

"Yes?" said the girl at last. "What can I do for you?"

Lauriston found his tongue.

"Er--is Mr. Multenius in?" he asked. "I--the fact is, I want to see him."

"Mr. Multenius is out," answered the girl. "But I'm in charge--if it's
business."

She was quietly eyeing Lauriston over, and she saw his fresh-complexioned
face colour vividly.

"I do my grandfather's business when he's out," she continued. "Do you
want to borrow some money?"

Lauriston pulled out the watch, with more blushes, and pushed it towards
her.

"That's just it," he answered. "I want to borrow money on that. A friend
of mine--fellow-lodger--Mr. Melky Rubinstein--said I could borrow
something here. That's a real good watch, you know."

The girl glanced at her customer with a swift and almost whimsical
recognition of his innocence, and almost carelessly picked up the watch.

"Oh, Melky sent you here, did he?" she said, with a smile. "I see!" She
looked the watch over, and snapped open the case. Then she glanced at