th. I can live on thirty-five or so, and the other forty is--"

"We don't require it Joe," said Netta, laughing. "There, go away, you
are giving me cold by keeping me in the passage, and your friend is
getting impatient."

She pushed him out, nodded, and shut the door. Tipps hastened after his
friend, apologised for the delay, and, stepping out smartly, they were
soon ushered into Captain Lee's drawing-room. The captain was writing.
Emma was seated near the window sewing.

"Ha! Tipps, my fine fellow, glad to see you; why, I was just thinking
of you," said the captain, extending his hand.

"I have called," began Tipps, bowing to Emma and shaking the captain's
hand, "to introduce my--my--eh!--ah, my--what's the matter?"

There was some reason for these exclamations, for Captain Lee stood
gazing in mute amazement at young Gurwood, while the latter returned the
compliment with his eyebrows raised to the roots of his hair. The
similarity of their expressions did not, however, last long, for Edwin
became gradually confused, while the captain grew red and
choleric-looking.

"So," said the latter at length, in a very stern voice, "_this_ is your
friend, Mr Tipps?"

"Sir," exclaimed Edwin, flushing crimson, "you ought not to condemn any
one unheard."

"_I_ do not condemn you, sir," retorted the captain.

"By word, no, but by look and tone and gesture you do."

"Captain Lee," exclaimed Tipps, who had stood perfectly aghast with
amazement at this scene, "what _do_ you mean?--surely."

"I mean," said the captain, "that this youth was taken up by one of our
own detectives as a thief, some weeks ago, and was found travelling in a
first-class carriage without a ticket."

Young Gurwood, who had by this time recovered his self-possession,
turned to his friend and said,--"Explain this matter, Tipps, you know
all about it. The only point that can puzzle you is, that I did not
know the name of Captain Lee when I travelled with him, and therefore
did not connect him with the gentleman to whom you said you meant to
introduce me."

Tipps drew a long breath.

"Oh," said he, "I see it all now. Why, Captain Lee, my friend is
_perfectly_ innocent. It was quite a mistake, I assure you; and the
best proof of it is that he is a personal friend of our police
superintendent, who was on the spot at the time the accident occurred,
but we were all thrown into such confusion at the time, that I don't
wonder things were not clear