old man," it ran, "I am coming with you, happen what may.--Always
your friend, J. FOOTE."

"That is another step upon the ladder," said Browne.

CHAPTER XVII

In the morning following the receipt of the letter from Foote, as
described in the previous chapter, Browne was walking from his house in
Park Lane in the direction of Piccadilly, when he saw Maas coming
towards him.

"This is a fortunate meeting, my dear Browne," said the latter, after
they had greeted each other; "for I was on my way to call upon you. If
you are walking towards Piccadilly perhaps you will permit me to save
time by accompanying you."

Browne was not feeling particularly happy that morning, and this may
have been the reason that he was glad of Maas's company. He stood in
need of cheerful society. But though he wanted it, he was not destined
to have it. It was a bleak, dreary morning, and once or twice during
the walk the other coughed asthmatically. Browne noticed this, and he
noticed also that Maas's face was even paler than usual.

"I am afraid you are not very well, old man," he said.

"What makes you say that?" asked Maas.

Browne gave him his reasons, and when he heard them the other laughed a
little uneasily. "I am afraid you've hit it, my friend," he said. "I
am not well. I've been to see my doctor this morning, and he has given
me some rather unpleasant news."

"I am sorry indeed to hear that," said Browne. "What does he say is
the matter with you?"

"Why, he says that it is impossible for me to stay in England any
longer. He declares that I must go away for a long sea voyage, and at
once. To tell the truth, I do not come of a very strong family; and,
by way of making me feel better satisfied with myself, he tells me
that, unless I take care of myself, I may follow in their footsteps.
Of course it's all very well to say, 'Take care of yourself'; but the
difficulty is to do so. In a life like ours, what chance have we of
guarding against catching cold? We dance in heated rooms, and sit in
cold balconies between whiles: we travel in draughty railway carriages
and damp cabs, and invariably eat and drink more than is good for us.
The wonder to me is that we last as long as we do."

"I've no doubt we are awfully foolish," said Browne. "But our fathers
were so before us."

"A small satisfaction, look at it how you will," returned Maas.

"And so you're going to clear out of England, are you?" said Browne
very