he
funds needed for repaying the money, and the profits of his business
would provide, in course of time, for restoring the dowry of his wife.
It was simply a question of preserving his credit by means which were
legitimately at his disposal. Within the lax limits of mercantile
morality, Richard Turlington had a conscience. He put on his hat and
took his false security to the money-lenders, without feeling at all
lowered in his own estimation as an honest man.

Bulpit Brothers, long desirous of having such a name as his on their
books, received him with open arms. The security (covering the amount
borrowed) was accepted as a matter of course. The money was lent, for
three months, with a stroke of the pen. Turlington stepped out again
into the street, and confronted the City of London in the character of
the noblest work of mercantile creation--a solvent man.*

The Fallen Angel, walking invisibly behind, in Richard's shadow, flapped
his crippled wings in triumph. From that moment the Fallen Angel had got
him.

* It may not be amiss to remind the incredulous reader that
a famous firm in the City accepted precisely the same
security as that here accepted by Bulpit Brothers, with the
same sublime indifference to troubling themselves by making
any inquiry about it.

FOURTH SCENE.

Muswell Hill.

The next day Turlington drove to the suburbs, on the chance of finding
the Graybrookes at home again. Sir Joseph disliked London, and could
not prevail on himself to live any nearer to the metropolis than Muswell
Hill. When Natalie wanted a change, and languished for balls, theaters,
flower-shows, and the like, she had a room especially reserved for her
in the house of Sir Joseph's married sister, Mrs. Sancroft, living in
that central deep of the fashionable whirlpool known among mortals as
Berkeley Square.

On his way through the streets, Turlington encountered a plain proof
that the Graybrookes must have returned. He was passed by Launce,
driving, in company with a gentleman, in a cab. The gentleman was
Launce's brother, and the two were on their way to the Commissioners
of Police to make the necessary arrangements for instituting an inquiry
into Turlington's early life.

Arrived at the gate of the villa, the information received only
partially fulfilled the visitor's expectations. The family had returned
on the previous evening. Sir Joseph and his sister were at home, but
Natalie was away