er."

"I know you don't like his style," murmured Porson; "but won't you come
in, it is so hot out here in the sun?"

"Thank you, yes, but let us go to that place you call your den, not to
the drawing-room. If you can spare it, I want half-an-hour with you.
That's why I came over in the afternoon, before dinner."

"Certainly, certainly," murmured Porson again, as he led the way to
the "den," but to himself he added: "It's those mortgages, I'll bet. Oh
dear! oh dear! when shall I see the last of them?"

Presently they were established in the den, the Colonel very cool and
comfortable in Mr. Porson's armchair, and Porson himself perched
upon the edge of a new-looking leather sofa in an attitude of pained
expectancy.

"Now I am at your service, Colonel," he said.

"Oh! yes; well, it is just this. I want you, if you will, to look
through these figures for me," and he produced and handed to him a
portentous document headed "List of Obligations."

Mr. Porson glanced at it, and instantly his round, simple face became
clever and alert. Here he was on his own ground. In five minutes he had
mastered the thing.

"Yes," he said, in a quick voice, "this is quite clear, but there is
some mistake in the addition making a difference of 87 pounds 3s. 10d.
in your favour. Well, where is the schedule of assets?"

"The schedule of assets, my dear John? I wish I knew. I have my pension,
and there are the Abbey and estates, which, as things are, seem to
be mortgaged to their full value. That's about all, I think.
Unless--unless"--and he laughed, "we throw in Morris's patent electrical
machine, which won't work."

"It ought to be reckoned, perhaps," replied Mr. Porson gravely; adding
in a kind of burst, with an air of complete conviction: "I believe in
Morris's machine, or, at least, I believe in Morris. He has the makings
of a great man--no, of a great inventor about him."

"Do you really?" replied the Colonel, much interested. "That is
curious--and encouraging; for, my dear John, where business matters are
concerned, I trust your judgment."

"But I doubt whether he will make any money out of it," went on Porson.
"One day the world will benefit; probably he will not benefit."

The Colonel's interest faded. "Possibly, John; but, if so, perhaps
for present purposes we may leave this mysterious discovery out of the
question."

"I think so, I think so; but what is the point?"

"The point is that I seem to be about at the end o