d. Then he read on.

"I look forward to inquiring personally after your health and
prospects, in which, as you know, my dear fellow, I am much
interested. It would be very nice of you, as the only friend I have
in England, to ask your old comrade on a visit to you in your
comfortable quarters. A particular advantage in such an arrangement
would be that it would prevent my coming without being asked. I am
due by the `Nile' about the first week in October. Come and meet me
in town. I have no doubt I shall get a line at Southampton to say at
which hotel I shall find you. I fear you will find me financially in
low water. But I shall have with me papers relating to the regimental
accounts previous to your regretted departure from India, which, no
doubt, some people would regard as valuable, _Au revoir_, my dear
fellow--

"Yours ever,--

"R.R.

"_P.S_.--Commend me to your charming family, I look forward with
particular pleasure to make the acquaintance of the young ladies, of
whom I have heard delightful reports over here."

Raffles, when he came in to remove the breakfast things, could not help
being struck with the narrow escape Captain Oliphant had had of throwing
away, for the sake of a paltry eightpence, a most interesting and
appetising letter.

The Captain sat holding it abstractedly in his hand, nor was it till the
door opened half an hour later and Rosalind sailed in that he hastily
pulled himself together, and crumpled the paper away in his pocket.

"Why, papa, what is the matter? Is there any bad news in that letter."

"On the contrary, it announces the arrival from India of a very dear old
comrade."

"Oh," said Rosalind. "You will like to hear all about the people over
there. Does he belong to our regiment?"

"No, dear. But I shall expect you to be very agreeable to him when he
comes here."

"But he's not coming _here_, is he?" she asked, in amazement.

"Where else do you suppose he would be likely to come to visit me?"

"Oh, but, papa, we cannot--we must not ask people here. As it is, think
of all four of us living here on Roger's money. It isn't fair."

"Rosalind, you use expressions which, to anyone but your father, would
be positively offensive. Rest assured that I do not require my own
child to correct me."

"Oh, of course, dear father, I don't mean that, but--"

"But it sounds extremely as if you did mean it."

"I do hope you won't ask