as fortunately in his room, a
little apartment ten feet square, with no furniture but a desk and two
chairs. Mr. Bunyard was a man of fifty or more. He stopped writing when
I entered, and looked at me.

"Mr. Bunyard?" I asked, as politely as I could, while my heart leaped
with emotion.

"The same," replied he.

I handed him the letter, which he opened at once. He took from it a bill
of exchange, which seemed to light up his face with satisfaction.

"I am very happy to hear from my friend Mr. Thornton. I hope he is quite
well. He does not mention the bearer of this letter," continued the
agent, bestowing an inquiring look upon me.

"He was not aware, when he wrote the letter, that I should be the bearer
of it," I replied, evasively. "My name is Thornton."

"I am happy to meet you, Mr. Thornton," he added.

"How is Mrs. Thornton now?" I inquired, boldly, though my heart almost
sank within me, when I put the question.

He looked at me--appeared to hesitate; but a glance at the letter and
the bill of exchange I had brought apparently reassured him. Doubtless
he concluded, as I supposed he would, that it was all right, since I
came directly from his employer, and was the bearer of a payment to him.

"Mrs. Thornton is quite as well as usual," he replied.

"I wish to see her," I continued, squarely.

"Did your father desire you to see her?" he asked, doubtfully.

"Of course he did," I answered, which was quite true, though my
conscience charged me with deceiving him. "I wish to make an
arrangement with her."

"Indeed?"

"Yes, sir."

"It would be proper that any arrangement with her should be made through
me," he added, cautiously.

"Of course, the actual business will be done through you," I replied,
magnanimously.

"Certainly it should be, for I have served Mr. Thornton very faithfully
for many years in this matter, and at a very reasonable compensation."

"I know that he appreciates your devotion, and is willing to do the
right thing by you," I continued at a venture; and I thought there was
no harm in committing my uncle to a liberal policy.

"I have been paid only one hundred pound a year for my services, and
that only for a brief period. Really I must insist, before you see the
poor lady, that you should explain your business with her."

"My time is short," I replied, rather brusquely. "I wish to know for
what sum, cash down, you will terminate your relations with the lady."

"That will require