lf
interrupted before he could utter a word.

"Wait!" interposed Midwinter, seeing in Allan's face that he was in
danger of being publicly announced in the capacity of steward. "Wait!"
he repeated, eagerly, "till I can speak to you first."

The butler's courtly manner remained alike unruffled by Midwinter's
sudden interference and by his own dismissal from the scene. Nothing but
the mounting color in his bulbous nose betrayed the sense of injury
that animated him as he withdrew. Mr. Armadale's chance of regaling his
friend and himself that day with the best wine in the cellar trembled in
the balance, as the butler took his way back to the basement story.

"This is beyond a joke, Allan," said Midwinter, when they were alone.
"Somebody must meet your tenants on the rent-day who is really fit to
take the steward's place. With the best will in the world to learn, it
is impossible for _me_ to master the business at a week's notice. Don't,
pray don't let your anxiety for my welfare put you in a false position
with other people! I should never forgive myself if I was the unlucky
cause--"

"Gently gently!" cried Allan, amazed at his friend's extraordinary
earnestness. "If I write to London by to-night's post for the man who
came down here before, will that satisfy you?"

Midwinter shook his head. "Our time is short," he said; "and the man may
not be at liberty. Why not try in the neighborhood first? You were going
to write to Mr. Darch. Send at once, and see if he can't help us between
this and post-time."

Allan withdrew to a side-table on which writing materials were placed.
"You shall breakfast in peace, you old fidget," he replied, and
addressed himself forthwith to Mr. Darch, with his usual Spartan brevity
of epistolary expression. "Dear Sir--Here I am, bag and baggage. Will
you kindly oblige me by being my lawyer? I ask this, because I want to
consult you at once. Please look in in the course of the day, and stop
to dinner if you possibly can. Yours truly. ALLAN ARMADALE." Having read
this composition aloud with unconcealed admiration of his own rapidity
of literary execution, Allan addressed the letter to Mr. Darch, and rang
the bell. "Here, Richard, take this at once, and wait for an answer.
And, I say, if there's any news stirring in the town, pick it up and
bring it back with you. See how I manage my servants!" continued Allan,
joining his friend at the breakfast-table. "See how I adapt myself to my
new duties!