ne took some sheets of blue official paper from a drawer,
and his quill pen travelled furiously over them with many a screech and
splutter.

"Sir," he said to the bank manager, "I enclose fourteen hundred pounds,
which represents the loose cash about the office. I shall make a heavy
deposit presently. In the meantime, you will, of course, honour
anything that may be presented.--Yours truly, JOHN GIRDLESTONE."

To Lloyd's Insurance Agency he wrote:--"Sir,--Enclosed you will find
cheque for 241 pounds seven shillings and sixpence, being amount due as
premium on the _Leopard_, _Black Eagle_, and _Maid of Athens_. Should
have forwarded cheque before, but with so many things of importance to
look after these trifles are liable to be overlooked."

These two epistles having been sealed, addressed, and despatched, the
elder Girdlestone began to feel somewhat more easy in his mind, and to
devote himself once more to the innocent amusement of planning how a
corner might best be created in diamonds.

CHAPTER XIII.

SHADOW AND LIGHT.

John Girdlestone's private residence in Eccleston Square was a large and
substantial house in a district which the wave of fashion had passed
over in its westward course. It might still, however, be said to be
covered by a deposit of eminent respectability. The building was stern
and hard, and massive in its external appearance, but the interior was
luxury itself, for the old merchant, in spite of his ascetic appearance,
was inclined to be a sybarite at heart, and had a due appreciation of
the good things of this world. Indeed, there was an oriental and almost
barbarous splendour about the great rooms, where the richest of
furniture was interspersed with skins from the Gaboon, hand-worked ivory
from Old Calabar, and the thousand other strange valuables which were
presented by his agents to the African trader.

After the death of his friend, Girdlestone had been as good as his word.
He had taken Kate Harston away from the desolate house at Fulham and
brought her to live with him. From the garrets of that palatial edifice
to the cellars she was at liberty to roam where she would, and do what
she chose. The square garden too, with its smoke-dried trees and faded
lawn, was at her disposal, in which she might walk, or work, or read.
No cares or responsibilities were imposed upon her. The domestic
affairs were superintended by a stern housekeeper, who bore a quaint
resemblance to Gird