will undertake to use no income or capital of
his own during the said year, nor receive any help or money from friends.
Briefly, he will undertake to make the one pound per week, which he will
earn as wage, suffice for his needs. He will take the name of Michael
Field for one year, and neither directly nor indirectly will he acquaint
any one whomsoever with the fact that it is a pseudonym. In short, he
will do all in his power to give the impression to everyone that he is
simply and solely Michael Field, working-man, and under-gardener at
Chorley Old Hall.

"He will make his decision in the matter within twenty-four hours, and,
should his decision be in the affirmative, he will bind himself, as a man
of honour to abide by it. And, further, he will proceed to Byestry within
one week of the decision, to take up his duties, and his residence in the
aforesaid cottage.

"Nicholas Danver.

"The fifth day of March,
nineteen hundred and eleven."

James Glieve stopped. He did not look at Antony, but at the paper, which
he placed on the desk in front of him.

"Hmm," said Antony quietly and ruminatively.

"You have twenty-four hours in which to make your decision," said James
Glieve.

"Twenty-four hours," said Henry Parsons.

"I think that's as well," returned Antony. He was still feeling the quite
absurd desire to find the word which should metamorphose the scene before
him to its true conditions.

"I told you the terms of the will were unusual," said James Glieve.

"Very unusual," emphasized Henry Parsons.

"They are," said Antony dryly. Then he got up from his chair. He looked
at his watch. "Well, Mr. Glieve, it is twelve o'clock. I will let you
know my decision by eleven o'clock to-morrow morning. That, I believe,
will entirely fulfil the conditions?"

"Entirely," said James Glieve.

"Entirely," echoed Henry Parsons.

CHAPTER IX

THE DECISION

As soon as Antony left the office, he walked down into the Strand, where
he took an omnibus as far as Pimlico. There he dismounted, and made his
way to the embankment, intending to walk back to his rooms in Chelsea. He
had spent the previous evening hunting for rooms solely on Josephus's
account. Dogs, and more especially puppies, are not welcomed at hotels;
also, Antony considered the terms demanded for this special puppy's
housing and maintenance entirely disproportionate to Josephus's size and
re