being made public, is to make her brother leave his place
in London at once, and go somewhere in the country where he will be a
nuisance to nobody."

My first feeling on reading this was one of devout thankfulness for the
Providence which had kept it from falling into the hands for which it
was designed. But my wrath soon drove out every other feeling--wrath
ten times the more fierce because it was helpless.

I could do nothing. I might go and attempt to thrash Masham, or I might
thrash Hawkesbury, who was equally to blame, if not more. But what good
would it do? It would only make bad worse. Jack's secret, instead of
being the private property of a few, would become common talk. I should
be unable to bring positive proof of my charges, and even if I could, I
should only be putting myself in the wrong by using force to redress my
wrongs. No, after all, the only punishment was to take no notice of the
affair, to let the two blackguards flatter themselves their plot had
succeeded, and to leave them to find out as best they could that they
had failed.

So I kept my hands resolutely in my pockets when next I met Hawkesbury,
and consoled myself by picturing what his feelings would have been, had
he known that that letter of his and his friend's was in my pocket all
the time.

However, my resolution to have nothing to do with him was upset very
shortly, and in an unexpected manner.

Since the eventful morning when Jack and I had had that unlucky
conversation at Hawk Street, I had not again put in an appearance there
before the stated time. Now, however, that I was all by myself in town,
with very few attractions towards a solitary walk, and a constant sense
of work to catch up at Hawk Street, it occurred to me one fine morning--
I should say one wet morning--when the streets were very uninviting, to
seek shelter at the unearthly hour of half-past eight in Messrs.
Merrett, Barnacle, and Company's premises.

The housekeeper, greatly to my satisfaction, was engaged in clearing out
the offices below ours, so that I was able to ascend without challenge
and establish myself at my desk. I had not been there five minutes when
another footstep sounded on the stairs and Hawkesbury entered.

I had thought it quite possible he might be there when I arrived, and
was therefore not nearly so surprised to see him as he appeared to see
me.

"What, Batchelor!" he exclaimed, "are you here?"

"Yes," I replied, "are you?"