unicate with the man who
held his signature.

Early on the morning of the 27th, he set out for Mr. Copley's office;
and it so happened that at the same moment Mr. Copley set out also for
Sydney's private house.

"Master in?" said Mr. Copley, who was a man of few words.

"No, sir."

"Lady in?"

"My mistress does not receive any one so early."

"Take that up--answer important--bearer waiting."

The footman condescended so far as this, and gave Mr. Copley's letter
into the charge of Mrs. Campion's maid.

In less than ten minutes Nan sent for the unwelcome visitor. She was
very pale when she received him, and she looked so young and fair that
Mr. Copley was a little taken aback. He knew that Sydney had married an
heiress, and it was from her, therefore, that he had determined, if
possible, to get the money; but he half repented his resolve when he saw
Mrs. Campion's face. "Too young to know anything about business," he
said to himself.

But Nan was more business-like than he expected. She had for some time
insisted on knowing a good deal about her own money matters, and she was
well aware of her powers.

"Where is this paper--this acceptance you mention in your letter?" she
began.

Mr. Copley silently took it from his notebook, and laid it on the table.

"Why did you bring this here? or, rather, why did you send it in to me?
Mr. Campion is not difficult to find when he is wanted. This is, of
course, _his_ business." There was a little indignation in her tone.

"Beg your pardon, madam. You will observe the date of the acceptance. I
presented it yesterday."

"At the bank?"

"Yes."

Nan bit her lip. She knew what this signified, and she would have given
a thousand pounds to undo what had happened.

She went to a drawer in her writing-table and quietly took out a
cheque-book. "We were delayed in returning to England by my illness,"
she said, as indifferently as she could. "Mr. Campion has gone out for
the purpose of seeing to this." Her heart smote her for making a
statement which she could not vouch for, but as Mr. Copley only bowed
and looked uninterested, she went on rapidly, "As you have the paper
with you it will save time--it will be satisfactory, I suppose--if I
give you a cheque for it?"

"Amply satisfactory."

She sat down before the table and took the pen in her hand, hesitating a
moment as to whether she ought to ask for further details. Her tears and
her curiosity were alike aroused, and M