lton."

Rufus listened attentively. In signing the order for his investments, he
privately decided to stir no further, for the present, in the matter of
his young friend's marriage-engagement.

For the rest of the day and evening, he still waited for Amelius, and
waited in vain. It was drawing near to midnight, when Toff made his
appearance with a message from his master. Amelius had discovered Sally,
and had returned in such a state of fatigue that he was only fit to
take some refreshment, and to go to his bed. He would be away from home
again, on the next morning; but he hoped to call at the hotel in the
course of the day. Observing Toff's face with grave and steady scrutiny,
Rufus tried to extract some further information from him. But the old
Frenchman stood on his dignity, in a state of immovable reserve.

"You took me by the shoulder this morning, sir, and spun me round," he
said; "I do not desire to be treated a second time like a teetotum.
For the rest, it is not my habit to intrude myself into my master's
secrets."

"It's not _my_ habit," Rufus coolly rejoined, "to bear malice. I beg to
apologise sincerely, sir, for treating you like a teetotum; and I offer
you my hand."

Toff had got as far as the door. He instantly returned, with the dignity
which a Frenchman can always command in the serious emergencies of his
life. "You appeal to my heart and my honour, sir," he said. "I bury the
events of the morning in oblivion; and I do myself the honour of taking
your hand."

As the door closed on him, Rufus smiled grimly. "You're not in the habit
of intruding yourself into your master's secrets," he repeated. "If
Amelius reads your face as I read it, he'll look over his shoulder when
he goes out tomorrow--and, ten to one, he'll see you behind him in the
distance!"

Late on the next day, Amelius presented himself at the hotel. In
speaking of Sally, he was unusually reserved, merely saying that she was
ill, and under medical care, and then changing the subject. Struck by
the depressed and anxious expression of his face, Rufus asked if he had
heard from Regina. No: a longer time than usual had passed since Regina
had written to him. "I don't understand it," he said sadly. "I suppose
you didn't see anything of her in Paris?"

Rufus had kept his promise not to mention Regina's name in Sally's
presence. But it was impossible for him to look at Amelius, without
plainly answering the question put to him, for the sake