granted himself the dinner of a well-to-do man, and, as would naturally
befall in such a case, made his indulgence large.

Several days passed and brought no letter from any one. But at midnight
on Saturday, there lay awaiting him a letter addressed in Sherwood's
well-known hand. Godfrey began by excusing himself for his delay in
replying; he had had rather a nasty attack of illness, and was only now
able to hold his pen. But it was lucky he had not written before; this
very morning there had reached him the very best news. "The father of
the man who owes me ten thousand pounds is dying. Off and on he has
been ill for a long time, but I hear at length that there can be no
doubt whatever that the end is near. I can't pretend to any human
feeling in this matter; the man's death means life for us--so the world
goes. Any day now, you may have a telegram from me announcing the
event. Of the prompt payment of the debt as soon as my friend inherits,
there is no shadow of doubt. I therefore urge you very strongly not to
make a disclosure. It will be needless. Wait till we see each other. I
am still in Ireland--for a reason which I will explain when we meet."

Will drew a long breath. If ever news came opportunely, it was this. He
threw up the window of his stuffy little sitting-room, and looked out
into the summer night. The murmur of London once more made music to his
ears.

CHAPTER 29

Rosamund took the Chelsea lodgings proposed to her by Bertha Cross, and
in a few days went to live there. The luggage which she brought from
Ashtead enabled her to add a personal touch to the characterless rooms:
in the place of the landlady's ornaments, which were not things of
beauty, she scattered her own _bibelots_, and about the walls she hung
a number of her own drawings, framed for the purpose, as well as
several which bore the signature, "Norbert Franks." Something less than
a year ago, when her father went abroad, their house at Bath had been
given up, and the furniture warehoused; for the present, Rosamund and
her sister were content to leave things thus. The inheritance of each
amounted only to a few hundred pounds.

"It's enough to save one from worry for a year or two," said Rosamund
to her friend Bertha. "I'm not extravagant; I can live here very
comfortably. And there's a pleasure in the thought that one's work not
only _may_ succeed but _must_."

"I'm sure I hope so," replied Bertha, "but where's the _must_?"

"