interview."

The man went away--to return in a few minutes and to lead the callers
into a room at the rear of the hall, wherein, his back to the fire, his
look and attitude one of puzzled surprise, stood a very young man,
dressed in the height of fashion, who, as his servant had said, was
obviously just ready to go out. Viner, remembering what had brought him
and Mr. Pawle there, looked at Lord Ellingham closely--he seemed to be
frank, ingenuous, and decidedly youthful. But there was something
decidedly practical and business-like in his greeting of his visitors.

"I'm afraid I can't give you very long, Mr. Pawle," he said, glancing
instinctively at the old lawyer. "I've a most important engagement in
half an hour, and it won't be put off. But I can give you ten minutes."

"I am deeply obliged to your lordship," answered Mr. Pawle. "As your
lordship will have seen from my card, I am one of the partners in Crawle,
Pawle and Rattenbury--a firm not at all unknown, I think. Allow me to
introduce my friend Mr. Viner, a gentlemen who is deeply concerned and
interested in the matter I want to mention to your lordship."

Lord Ellingham responded politely to Viner's bow and drew two
chairs forward.

"Sit down, Mr. Pawle; sit down, Mr. Viner," he said. He dropped into a
chair near a desk which stood in the centre of the room and looked
interrogatively at his elder visitor. "Have you some business to discuss,
Mr. Pawle?" he asked.

"Some business, my lord, which, I confess at once, is of extraordinary