he same house, are you? You've got my sister's
affairs into your own dirty fingers, eh, my boy? She's getting to a
nice manageable age, isn't she? And you've found out that some money is
coming to me after all, and you think me idiot enough to sign away half
of it for you and that young----'

'Stop, sir, if you please. You shall commit what folly you like in
respect to the business in hand, but I have no time or taste for a
drunken brawl. You may call upon me in the morning. You will forgive me
if I suggest that you are not quite fit for business at present. I have
the honour to bid you a good afternoon.'

'Oh!' said he, 'I'm quite fit for business, if there is any business
to be done. Have you any objection to my consulting a lawyer before I
sign?'

I disregarded the sneer, and said that I could have no objection to such
a course.

'Will you come with me?' he asked.

'No,' I told him. There was the case already in his hands. I was
powerless to alter its conditions. He could tell the story to his lawyer
for himself.

'I will give you a reply to-morrow, he said.

I gave him my card, and he went away. I had no doubt of his final
acceptance of the terms offered to him, and when on the morrow he
returned, he proclaimed himself willing to accept one-half of the sum
left in Mr. Gregory's hands. The lawyer he had consulted was the man who
had acted professionally for his father during the latter's lifetime,
and it was he also to whom my directions ordered me. I telegraphed to
Mr. Gregory at his offices in the city, and then drove to Russell Square
with young Grammont. At the lawyer's we were detained for a few minutes,
and before wo could get to business Mr. Gregory arrived. The matter was
then gone into, and everything was over in half-an-hour. Mr. Gregory
gave young Grammont a cheque for five thousand pounds, and took the
receipt for it. Then we bade the lawyer good-day and went out together.
Young Grammont took a cab and went away in high feather, whilst Mr.
Gregory and I went to my rooms, and sent a message to Miss Grammont.
In a few minutes we were admitted, and it was my felicity to make the
announcement of the pleasant change in their fortunes. Miss Grammont
recognised Mr. Gregory at once, and both she and Cecilia accepted this
stroke of good fortune with a calm gladness.

'Why did you hide yourself in this way?' asked Mr. Gregory.

'What could we do?' Miss Grammont answered him. 'We have never been in
actua