scrap in love. Why, we've not one single taste
in common--bar tennis and walnut pickles! I hate saying all this to
you, old man--it seems monstrously caddish, and really----"

"Oh, don't apologise," interrupted Sandy; "I know Cossie and her little
ways--you are not the first by a long way that she's tried it on with."

"Couldn't you drop her some sort of gentle hint? Do, like a good chap
and say a word to my aunt? I'd stay away from 'Monte Carlo,' only that
I'm drawn to play in this confounded tournament."

"No good! They wouldn't listen to _me_; you must do the business
yourself, Douglas, old man. Come on, hurry up, or we'll miss our
train!" and Sandy began to run.

Shafto had not long been perched on his office stool and invested in
his office coat and paper cuffs, when he received a message that Mr.
Martin--the head of the firm--wished to see him in his private room.

"This is the limit!" he said to himself, as he followed the messenger
into a cool, luxurious apartment. "Now I'm going to get a
slating--over that French correspondence--and it was Fraser's job.
Well, if that's the case, I'll enlist; I'm sick of this life!"

He found Mr. Martin temporarily idle, seated in front of his large
writing-table, scanning the _Financial News_. He raised his eyes as
Douglas entered, and said:

"Hullo, that you, Shafto? I have something to say to you. How would
you like a little promotion?"

"Very much indeed, sir," he replied after a moment's hesitation due to
amazement.

"You've been over four years with us as correspondence clerk?"

"Yes, sir."

"I believe you know Mr. Tremenheere?"

"Yes."

"So do I. He has called here to see me about you. What would you
think of going abroad for a change--say, to Burma?"

"Burma--yes, sir, all right," assented Shafto, with a glowing face.
Something within him had always craved for the East.

"It's like this," continued the other, leaning back and placing his
fingers together, tent fashion. "Our house in Rangoon wants a smart,
healthy, young fellow, quick at figures, and able to manage bills of
lading. You would soon pick up that; it will be chiefly an out-of-door
job on the wharves."

"I'd like that."

"The pay offered is four hundred rupees a month, and house rent; not
much, I admit, considering the fall of the rupee and Rangoon prices;
but we have been compelled to modify expenses, our profits are run so
fine, thanks to an active German mercantile elemen