. But if you were still here it would
have mattered a great deal to you, for it would blacken your name and
break your heart, and then what's the good of the money? I tell you,
Major," the clerk went on with quiet intensity, "though I am nobody and
nothing, if I could afford it I would follow your example. But I can't,
for I have a sick wife and a family of delicate children who have to
live half the year on the south coast, to say nothing of my old mother,
and--I was fool enough to be taken in and back Sir Robert's last little
venture, which cost me all I had saved. So you see I must make a bit
before the machine is scrapped, Major. But I tell you this, that if I
can get L5000 together, as I hope to do out of Saharas before I am a
month older, for they had to give me a look-in, as I knew too much, I am
off to the country, where I was born, to take a farm there. No more
of Messrs. Aylward and Haswell for Thomas Jeffreys. That's my bell.
Good-bye, Major, I'll take the liberty to write you a line sometimes,
for I know you won't give me away. Good-bye and God bless you, as I am
sure He will in the long run," and stretching out his hand, he took that
of the astonished Alan and wrung it warmly.

When he was gone Alan went also, noticing that the clerks, whom some
rumour of these events seemed to have reached, eyed him curiously
through the glass screens behind which they sat at their desks, as
he thought not without regret and a kind of admiration. Even the
magnificent be-medalled porter at the door emerged from the carved teak
box where he dwelt and touching his cap asked if he should call a cab.

"No, thank you, Sergeant," answered Alan, "I will take a bus, and,
Sergeant, I think I forgot to give you a present last Xmas. Will you
accept this?--I wish I could make it more," and he presented him with
ten shillings.

The Sergeant drew himself up and saluted.

"Thank you kindly, Major," he said. "I'd rather take that from you than
L10 from the other gentlemen. But, Major, I wish we were out on the West
Coast again together. It's a stinking, barbarous hole, but not so bad as
this 'ere city."

For once these two had served as comrades, and it was through Alan that
the sergeant obtained his present lucrative but somewhat uncongenial
post.

He was outside at last. The massive granite portal vanished behind him
in the evening mists, much as a nightmare vanishes. He, Alan Vernon, who
for a year or more had been in bondage, wa