have set my heart on the Castle."

"So have I," said Piers, avoiding her look.

And Mrs. Borisoff laughed.

CHAPTER XXXIII

Once in the two years' interval he had paid a short visit to England.
He came on disagreeable business--to see his brother Daniel, who had
fallen into the hands of the police on an infamous charge, and only by
the exertions of clever counsel (feed by Piers) received the benefit of
a doubt and escaped punishment. Daniel had already written him several
begging letters, and, when detected in what looked like crime, declared
that poverty and ill-health were his excuse. He was a broken man.
Surmising his hidden life, Piers wondered at the pass a man can be
brought to, in our society, by his primitive instincts; instincts which
may lead, when they are impetuous, either to grimiest degradation or
loftiest attainment. To save him, if possible, from the worst
extremities, Piers granted him a certain small income, to be paid
weekly, and therewith bade him final adieu.

The firm of Moncharmont & Co. grew in moderate prosperity. Its London
representative was a far better man, from the commercial point of view,
than Piers Otway, and on visiting the new offices--which he did very
soon after reaching London, in the spring of 1894--Piers marvelled how
the enterprise had escaped shipwreck during those twelve months which
were so black in his memory with storm and stress. The worst twelve
month of his life!--with the possible exception of that which he spent
part at Ewell, part at Odessa.

Since, he had sailed in no smooth water; had seen no haven. But at
least he sailed onward, which gave him courage. Was courage to be now
illumined with hope? He tried to keep that thought away from him; he
durst not foster it. Among the papers he brought with him to England
was a letter, which, having laid it aside, he never dared to open
again. He knew it by heart--unfortunately for his peace.

He returned to another London than that he had known, a London which
smiled welcome. It was his duty, no less than his pleasure, to call
upon certain people for whom he had letters of introduction from
friends in Russia, and their doors opened wide to him. Upon formalities
followed kindness; the season was beginning, and at his modest lodgings
arrived cards, notes, bidding to ceremonies greater and less; one or
two of these summonses bore names which might have stirred envy in the
sons of fashion.

_Solus feci_! He allowed