at there existed
upon this earth such adaptation of means to an end, such complete
mastery of every detail which may aid in stripping life of any of its
petty worries."

"I have something yet to show you," remarked Raffles Haw; "but we will
rest here for a few minutes, for I wished to have a word with you. How
is the cigar?"

"Most excellent."

"It was rolled in Louisiana in the old slavery days. There is nothing
made like them now. The man who had them did not know their value. He
let them go at merely a few shillings apiece. Now I want you to do me a
favour, Mr. McIntyre."

"I shall be so glad."

"You can see more or less how I am situated. I am a complete stranger
here. With the well-to-do classes I have little in common. I am no
society man. I don't want to call or be called on. I am a student in a
small way, and a man of quiet tastes. I have no social ambitions at all.
Do you understand?"

"Entirely."

"On the other hand, my experience of the world has been that it is the
rarest thing to be able to form a friendship with a poorer man--I mean
with a man who is at all eager to increase his income. They think much
of your wealth, and little of yourself. I have tried, you understand,
and I know." He paused and ran his fingers through his thin beard.

Robert McIntyre nodded to show that he appreciated his position.

"Now, you see," he continued, "if I am to be cut off from the rich by
my own tastes, and from those who are not rich by my distrust of their
motives, my situation is an isolated one. Not that I mind isolation:
I am used to it. But it limits my field of usefulness. I have no
trustworthy means of informing myself when and where I may do good.
I have already, I am glad to say, met a man to-day, your vicar, who
appears to be thoroughly unselfish and trustworthy. He shall be one
of my channels of communication with the outer world. Might I ask you
whether you would be willing to become another?"

"With the greatest pleasure," said Robert eagerly.

The proposition filled his heart with joy, for it seemed to give him an
almost official connection with this paradise of a house. He could not
have asked for anything more to his taste.

"I was fortunate enough to discover by your conversation how high a
ground you take in such matters, and how entirely disinterested you
are. You may have observed that I was short and almost rude with you at
first. I have had reason to fear and suspect all chance friends