ing turn of mind, accepted the invitation,
and gave a cursory glance at the chaos which formed the leading feature
of the apartment.

"It's not such a swagger crib as Roger's," said Tom; "but it's snug
enough. That's Roger's opposite. Like to look?"

Once more Mr Ratman allowed himself to be escorted on a tour of
discovery.

"Who is that a portrait of?" asked he, looking at the lost Roger's
picture.

"Oh, that's what's his name, the fellow who would have been heir if he
hadn't died. He looks rather a tough customer, doesn't he? That's the
picture Rosalind painted for Roger's birthday--a view of the park from
her window, with the sea beyond. Not so bad, is it? Rosalind thinks
she's no end of an artist, but I--"

"When did he die?" inquired Mr Ratman, still examining the picture.

"Oh, ever so long ago--before the old Squire married Auntie. I say,
come and have a punt about with my new football, will you?"

"Go and get it. I'll be down presently. I like pictures, and shall
just take a look at these first!"

Tom bustled off, wondering what Mr Ratman could see in the pictures to
allure him from the joys of football.

To tell the truth, Mr Ratman was not a great artist. But the portrait
of the lost Roger appeared to interest him, as did also the sight of an
open letter, hastily laid down by the owner on the writing-table.

Something in the handwriting of the letter particularly aroused the
curiosity of the trespasser, who, being, as has been said, of an
inquiring disposition, ventured to look at it more closely.

"_To be given unopened into the hands of Roger Ingleton, junior, on his
twentieth birthday_."

The coast was conveniently clear for Mr Ratman, as, fired with a zeal
for information, he slipped the letter from the envelope and, with half
an eye on the door, hastily read it. As he did so, he flushed a little,
and having read the letter once, read it again. Then he quickly
replaced it in its cover, and laying it where he had discovered it, beat
a rapid retreat.

He played football badly that afternoon, so that his young companion's
opinion of him lowered considerably. Nor was either sorry when the
ceremony was over, and the bell warned them to return to their quarters
and prepare for the evening's festivities.

Mr Ratman dressed with special care, spending some time before the
mirror in an endeavour to set off his person to the best advantage. As
the reader has already been told, Mr Ratm