very boots, would put me out of humour for a fortnight.'

'In the main,' said Nicholas, 'there may be no great difference of
opinion between you and me, so far; but you will understand, that I
desire to confront him, to justify myself, and to cast his duplicity and
malice in his throat.'

'That's quite another matter,' rejoined Miss La Creevy. 'Heaven forgive
me; but I shouldn't cry my eyes quite out of my head, if they choked
him. Well?'

'To this end, I called upon him this morning,' said Nicholas. 'He only
returned to town on Saturday, and I knew nothing of his arrival until
late last night.'

'And did you see him?' asked Miss La Creevy.

'No,' replied Nicholas. 'He had gone out.'

'Hah!' said Miss La Creevy; 'on some kind, charitable business, I dare
say.'

'I have reason to believe,' pursued Nicholas, 'from what has been told
me, by a friend of mine who is acquainted with his movements, that he
intends seeing my mother and sister today, and giving them his version
of the occurrences that have befallen me. I will meet him there.'

'That's right,' said Miss La Creevy, rubbing her hands. 'And yet, I
don't know,' she added, 'there is much to be thought of--others to be
considered.'