inutes, then
declared that he must go to bed.

"I always feel better in the evening, Gammon. You'll excuse me, I know;
we are old friends. I must see you again to-day; you'll promise to come
back? Oh, how ill I am! I don't think this can go on much longer."

"What did the doctor tell you to do?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing," was the irritable reply. "Of course, I must get
away as soon as possible. If only I could hear from Greenacre."

Seeing there was no likelihood of the man's leaving home for the next
few hours Gammon promised to return in the afternoon, and so took his
leave. On the stairs he passed two ladies, who, as he learnt in a
moment by the sound of their knock above, were making a call upon the
invalid. In the street stood their carriage. He watched it for some
time from the other side of the way until the ladies came forth again.
It would have soothed Gammon's mind could he have known that they were
Lord Polperro's sister and his niece.

Just as the brief daylight was flickering out (the air had begun to nip
with a threat of frost) he once more presented himself at Lowndes
Mansions. In the meantime he had seen Polly Sparkes, informed her of
what was happening, and received her promise that she would take no
step until he could communicate with her again. This interview revived
his spirits; he felt equal to another effort such as that of the
morning--which had taxed him more than the hardest day's work he was
ever called upon to do.

Lord Polperro again sat by the fireside with a decanter and glass
within his reach. He was evidently more at ease, but seemed to have a
difficulty in recognizing his visitor.

"Have you come from Greenacre?" he asked cautiously, peering through
the dull light.

"I don't know anything about him."

"No? I cannot understand why I have no news from him. Pray sit down; we
were talking about--"

Presently he shook his recollections into order, and when a lamp was
brought in he began to talk lucidly.

"Gammon, I feel very uneasy in my mind. This morning I quite intended
to have gone and seen Cuthbertson; but I was taken ill, you know. What
is the time? I wonder whether Cuthbertson is likely to be at his office
still?"

"That's your lawyer, isn't it? Would you like me to go and try to get
hold of him? I might bring him here."

"You are very kind, Gammon. For some reason I feel that I really ought
to see him to-day. Suppose we go together?"

"But you oughtn't to be out at n