e Unjust Steward; he, too, was a child of this
world--indeed his earthly parentage was witnessed to beyond the common
by his moral features. What should he do when he was no longer steward,
when Jenny was safely wedded to Fillingford, or had thrown off, of her
own motive or on compulsion, all secrecy about Octon? Lady Sarah should
receive--or at least introduce--him into a comfortable habitation and
put money in his pocket to pay its rent. Jenny had overrated her
domination; and she had forgotten that rogues are apt not to know when
they are well off. Even when their own pockets are snugly lined, a
pocket unpicked is a challenge and a temptation.

Lady Sarah's conduct is sufficiently accounted for by most praiseworthy
motives--moral principle, family pride, loyalty to her brother. Let,
then, no others be imputed. But if Jenny would not credit these to her,
well, there were others of which she might have thought. She had chosen
not to think of Lady Sarah at all--in connection with Powers at all
events. The very omission might stand as a compliment to Lady Sarah, but
Jenny was not the person who could afford to pay it; her own safety and
honor still rested in those unclean hands.

The last days--the week of Jenny's hard-won respite--passed for us at
Breysgate like the interval between the firing of a fuse and the
explosion. How would it go? Clear away obstacles and open the adit to
profitable working? Or blow all the mine to ruins, and engulf the
engineer in the _debris_? Nerves were on trial and severely tried. Chat
was in flutters beyond description. I do not suppose that I myself was a
cheerful companion. Jenny was steel, but the steel was red-hot.

At last--the last day! Jenny's week of respite drew to its end. Be sure
I had counted! But if I had not, Octon himself came, most welcomely, to
announce it. With a mighty relief I heard him say, as he threw himself
into my arm-chair at the Old Priory, "I've just dropped in to say
good-by, Austin. I'm off to-morrow."

"Off? Where to?" I had sooner have asked "For how long?" His reply
answered both questions.

"Right out of this hole--for good." He smiled. "So, for once, I chanced
meeting Lady Aspenick again in the park." He took up the poker and began
to dig and prod my coals: all through our talk he held the poker, now
digging and prodding, now using it to emphasize his words with a point
or a wave. "I'm done with here, Austin. I've played a game that I never
thought I