f its members, demand that I should go at once to
Florence. You tell me that if I go I shall be dismissed."

"Of course you must not go without leave. I never heard of such
a thing in all my life." And Sir Raffle lifted his hands towards
heaven, almost in dismay.

"So I have drawn up a short statement of the circumstances, which I
hope may be read at the Board when the question of my dismissal comes
before it."

"You mean to go, then?"

"Yes, Sir Raffle; I must go. The honour of a certain branch of my
family demands that I should do so. As I have for some time been so
especially under you, I thought it would be proper to show you what
I have said before I send my letter in, and therefore I have brought
it with me. Here it is." And Johnny handed to Sir Raffle an official
document of large dimensions.

Sir Raffle began to be uncomfortable. He had acquired a character
for tyranny in the public service of which he was aware, though
he thought that he knew well that he had never deserved it. Some
official big-wig,--perhaps that Chancellor of the Exchequer of whom
he was so fond,--had on one occasion hinted to him that a little
softness of usage would be compatible with the prejudices of the
age. Softness was impossible to Sir Raffle; but his temper was
sufficiently under his control to enable him to encounter the rebuke,
and to pull himself up from time to time when he found himself
tempted to speak loud and to take things with a high hand. He knew
that a clerk should not be dismissed for leaving his office, who
could show that his absence had been caused by some matter really
affecting the interest of his family; and that were he to drive Eames
to go on this occasion without leave, Eames would be simply called
in to state what was the matter of moment which had taken him away.
Probably he had stated that matter of moment in this very document
which Sir Raffle was holding in his hand. But Sir Raffle was not
willing to be conquered by the document. If it was necessary that he
should give way, he would much prefer to give way,--out of his own
good-nature, let us say,--without looking at the document at all.
"I must, under the circumstances, decline to read this," said he,
"unless it should come before me officially," and he handed back the
paper.

"I thought it best to let you see it if you pleased," said John
Eames. Then he turned round as though he were going to leave the
room; but suddenly he turned back again. "I