as to this gentleman that Jones was shown in, and it was by this
gentleman that he was received coldly, it is true, but politely.

Jones, with his usual directness, began the business.

"I have come to have a serious talk with you," said he.

"Indeed," said the lawyer, "has anything new turned up?"

"No. I want to talk about my position generally. I see that I have made
a fool of myself."

The man of law raised his hands lightly with fingers spread, the gesture
was eloquent.

"But," went on the other, "I want to make good, I want to clear up the
mess."

The lawyer sighed. Then he took a small piece of chamois leather from
his waistcoat pocket and began to polish his glasses.

"You remember what I told you the day before yesterday," said he; "have
you determined to take my advice? Then you had nothing to offer me but
some wild talk about suicide."

"What advice?"

Collins made an impatient gesture.

"Advice--why to emigrate and try your luck in the Colonies."

"H'm, h'm," said Jones. "Yes, I remember, but since then I have been
thinking things out. I'm going to stay here and make good."

Again the lawyer made a gesture of impatience.

"You know your financial position as well as I do," said he. "How are
you to make good, as you express it, against that position? You can't,
you are hopelessly involved, held at every point. A month ago I told you
to reduce your establishment and let Carlton House Terrace; you said you
would and you didn't. That hurt me. I would much sooner you had refused
the suggestion. Well, the crash if it does not come to-day will come
to-morrow. You are overdrawn at Coutts', you can raise money on nothing,
your urgent debts to tradesmen and so forth amount, as you told me the
day before yesterday, to over two thousand five hundred pounds. See for
yourself how you stand."

"I say again," said Jones, "that I am going to make good. All these
affairs seem to have gone to pieces because--I have been a fool."

"I'm glad you recognise that."

"But I'm a fool no longer. You know that business about Voles?"

The man of affairs nodded.

"Well, what do you think of that?" He took Voles' cheque from his pocket
and laid it before the lawyer.

"Why, what is this?" said the other. "Eight thousand pounds."

"He called on me for more blackmail," replied Jones, "and I squeezed
him, called in a--policeman, made him disgorge, and there's his cheque.
Do you, think he has money enough to meet it?"