ude,
sighed with relief, and then turned with the grotesque resemblance of a
smile in his face to greet Forel, who came in.

"Gillard has been called away south on business and has sent me word he
can let me have the places at the opera-house for both nights," he
said. "No doubt you have seen the great man in England with his
regular company, but a treat of the kind is appreciated here, and
Gillard bought up a row of places, the best in the house. My wife is
wondering who she should ask, and would like to know if Miss Deringham
has any preference."

Deringham glanced at his daughter, and then smiled at his host. "One
feels a little diffident about returning a favour at somebody else's
expense, but my kinsman Alton was very kind to us in the bush," he said.

Forel appeared a trifle embarrassed, and Alice Deringham felt her neck
grow warm as she watched him. "We can talk about it later, but I
scarcely think Mr. Alton would come just now if he was asked," he said.

The girl turned away, for she could comprehend Forel's discomfiture,
while as they followed him her father touched her.

"Get Mr. Alton there on the second night, and that is all I ask," he
said.

It was two days later, when Alton returned to his office in a somewhat
uncertain temper. He had called at Forel's house the previous evening,
and been informed that Mrs. Forel was not at home, though the blaze of
lights and music made it evident that she was entertaining a good many
guests. He had also waited a considerable time for a banker who had
been apparently willing to make him certain advances a few days
earlier, and when he came to complete the transaction, raised wholly
unexpected difficulties. Afterwards he called upon a dealer in tools
and sawmill machinery, who, after professing his willingness to deal
with him on usual easy terms, demanded a cheque with the order. Alton
fancied he recognized the hand of Hallam in this, but there was also
something else which troubled him. Some of the men he had business
with had been a trifle abrupt in their greetings, and others smiled
sardonically when they saw him.

As he strode down the corridor the keeper of the building signed to
him. "There was a young man here asking for you," he said. "Told me
he was Mr. Townshead, and he'd be back again."

Alton had scarcely reopened his office when a produce broker he had
dealings with came in. "I've worked off the first two car-loads, and
you can send som