posited in my name."

"That is so."

"Is there anything to be done about it, sir?"

"Not unless you wish to draw it out. She told me, some time ago, why
she placed it in your name; and I told her that there would be no
difficulty."

"I do not want to draw any of it out, sir, as there were fifty pounds
in the house. She was aware that she had not long to live, and no doubt
kept it by her, on purpose."

"Then all you have to do is to write your signature on this piece of
paper. I will hand you a cheque book, and you will only have to fill up
a cheque and sign it, and draw out any amount you please."

"I have never seen a cheque book, sir. Will you kindly tell me what I
should have to do?"

Mr. Murray took out a cheque book, and explained its use. Then he asked
what Gregory thought of doing.

"I wish to go up with the Nile expedition, sir. It was my mother's
wish, also, that I should do so. My main object is to endeavour to
obtain particulars of my father's death, and to assure myself that he
was one of those who fell at El Obeid. I do not care in what capacity I
go up; but as I speak Arabic and Soudanese, as well as English, my
mother thought that I might get employment as interpreter, either under
an officer engaged on making the railway, or in some capacity under an
officer in one of the Egyptian regiments."

"I have no doubt that I can help you there, lad. I know the Sirdar, and
a good many of the British officers, for whom I act as agent. Of
course, I don't know in what capacity they could employ you, but surely
some post or other could be found for you, where your knowledge of the
language would render you very useful. Naturally, the officers in the
Egyptian service all understand enough of the language to get on with,
but few of the officers in the British regiments do.

"It is fortunate that you came today. I have an appointment with Lord
Cromer tomorrow morning, so I will take the opportunity of speaking to
him. As it is an army affair, and as your father was in the Egyptian
service, and your mother had a pension from it, I may get him to
interest himself in the matter. Kitchener is down here at present, and
if Cromer would speak to him, I should think you would certainly be
able to get up, though I cannot say in what position. The fact that you
are familiar with the Negro language, which differs very widely from
that of the Arab Soudan tribes, who all speak Arabic, is strongly in
your favour; and may