ne way or the other, by
interfering with Lord Polperro before he has made his plans. The ladies
would in no way be benefited, and it's very certain no one else would
be. No doubt you'll bear that in mind."

"Of course I shall. You may take it from me, Greenacre, that I'm
tolerably wide awake. Can I still address you at the Bilboes?"

"You can," was the grave and dignified reply. "And now, as I happen to
have an appointment at the other end of the town, I really must say
good-bye. I repeat, Miss Sparkes, you may trust me absolutely. I have
your interests and those of my friend Gammon--the same thing
now--thoroughly at heart. You will hear from his lordship, Miss
Sparkes--no, hang it, Miss Polly. You will very soon have a line from
his lordship, who, I may venture to say, is really attached to you. He
speaks of you all most touchingly. Good evening, Miss Polly, not
good-bye; we are to meet again very soon. And who knows all the happy
changes that are before you. Ta-ta, Gammon. Rely upon me; I never
failed a friend yet."

So saying he took his leave with bows and flourishes. Shortly after
Polly and Gammon went into the superior room of the tavern and had tea
together, talking at a great rate, one as excited as the other. Miss
Sparkes being already attired for her evening duties they parted only
when they were obliged to do so, agreeing to meet again when Polly left
the theatre.

To pass this interval of time Mr. Gammon dropped into a music-hall. He
wished to meditate on what had come to his knowledge. Had it not been
that Lord Polperro was, in a sense, a public institution, and could not
escape him, he would have felt uneasy about the doings of that
remarkable fellow Greenacre; as it was, he preferred to muse on the
advantages certain to befall Minnie and her mother, and perchance Polly
Sparkes. After all, the niece of a lord must benefit substantially by
the connexion, and by consequence that young lady's husband. No one
could have been freer from secondary motives than he, when he found
himself falling in love with Polly; and if it turned out a marriage of
unforeseen brilliancy, why, so much the better. Polly had not altered
towards him--dear, affectionate girl that she was I He would act
honourably; she should have the chance of reconsidering her position;
but--

A damsel, sparingly clad, was singing in the serio-comic vein, with a
dance after each stanza. As he sipped his whisky, and watched and
listened, Gammon