tice to myself, sir, I 'ave to tell you that I shouldn't 'ave
let the 'ouse to _hany_-body. It was only that, she being connected
with the stage, I saw a hopening. Mr. 'Erbert was, as you might say,
a hafterthought: which, finding him so affable, I thought I might go
one better. He cost me a pretty penny first and last. But when he
offered to introjuice me--and me, at his invite, going back to be put
up at No. 402 like any other gentleman--why, 'ow could I resist it?"

"If I forbear to have you arrested, Trewlove, it will be on condition
that you efface yourself. May I suggest some foreign country, where,
in a colony of the Peculiar People--unacquainted with your past--"

"I'm tired of them, sir. Your style of life don't suit me--I've
tried it, as you see, and I give it up--I'm too late to learn; but
I'll say this for it, it cures you of wantin' to go back and be a
Peculiar. Now, if you've no objection, sir, I thought of takin' a
little public down Putney way."

"You mean it?" asked Clara, a couple of hours later.

"I mean it," said I.

"And I am to live on here alone as your tenant?"

"As my tenant, and so long as it pleases you." I struck a match to
light her bedroom candle, and with that we both laughed, for the June
dawn was pouring down on us through the stairway skylight.

"Shall I see you to-morrow, to say good-bye?"

"I expect not. We shall catch the first boat."

"The question is, will you get Herbert awake in time to explain
matters?"

"I'll undertake that. Horrex has already packed for him. Oh, you
needn't fear: he'll be right enough at Ambleteuse, under my eye."

"It's good of you," she said slowly; "but why are you doing it?"

"Can't say," I answered lightly.

"Well, good-bye, and God bless you!" She put out her hand.
"There's nothing I can say or do to--"

"Oh, yes, by the way, there is," I interrupted, tugging a key off my
chain. "You see this? It unlocks the drawers of a writing-table in
your room. In the top left-hand drawer you will find a bundle of
papers."

She passed up the stair before me and into the room. "Is this what
you want?" she asked, reappearing after a minute with my manuscript
in her hand. "What is it? A new comedy?"

"The makings of one," said I. "It was to fetch it that I came across
from Ambleteuse."

"And dropped into another."

"Upon my word," said I, "you are right, and to-night's is a better
one--up to a point."

"What are you going t