it
will be all right; I shall then have my legal remedy, if there's need
of it. To take any step of that sort now would be ruinous; my friend
would be cut off with a shilling, if the affair came to his father's
ears."

"So this is how we stand," said Warburton, grimly. "It's all over."

Sherwood laid on the table a number of bank-notes, saying simply:

"There's two hundred and sixty pounds--the result of the sale of my
furniture and things. Will you use that and trust me a little longer?"

Warburton writhed in his chair.

"What have you to live upon?" he asked with eyes downcast.

"Oh, I shall get on all right. I've one or two ideas."

"But this is all the money you have?"

"I've kept about fifty pounds," answered the other, "out of which I can
pay my debts--they're small--and the rent of my house for this quarter."

Warburton pushed back the notes.

"I can't take it--you know I can't."

"You must."

"How the devil are you going to live?" cried Will, in exasperation.

"I shall find a way," replied Sherwood with an echo of his old
confident tone. "I need a little time to look about me, that's all,
There's a relative of mine, an old fellow who lives comfortably in
North Wales, and who invites me down every two or three years. The best
thing will be for me to go and spend a short time with him, and get my
nerves into order--I'm shaky, there's no disguising it. I haven't
exhausted all the possibilities of raising money; there's hope still in
one or two directions; if I get a little quietness and rest I shall be
able to think things out more clearly Don't you think this justifiable?"

As to the money he remained inflexible. Very reluctantly Warburton
consented to keep this sum, giving a receipt in form.

"You haven't said anything to Mrs. Warburton yet?" asked Sherwood
nervously.

"Not yet," muttered Will.

"I wish you could postpone it a little longer. Could you--do you
think--without too much strain of conscience? Doesn't it seem a
pity--when any day may enable me to put things right?"

Will muttered again that he would think of it; that assuredly he
preferred not to disclose the matter if it could decently be kept
secret. And on this Sherwood took his leave, going away with a brighter
face than he had brought to the interview; whilst Will remained
brooding gloomily, his eyes fixed on the bank-notes, in an unconscious
stare.

Little of a man of business as he was, Warburton knew very well that
thin