her. "My dearest, do not look so pale. Whatever may happen you will
always have me to stand by you. And Deborah also. She is worth a
regiment in her fidelity."

So Sylvia was comforted, and Paul, putting the unfinished letter in his
pocket, went round to see Pash in his Chancery Lane office. He was
stopped in the outer room by a saucy urchin with an impudent face and a
bold manner. "Mr. Pash is engaged," said this official, "so you'll 'ave
to wait, Mr. Beecot."

Paul looked down at the brat, who was curly-headed and as sharp as a
needle. "How do you know my name?" he asked. "I never saw you before."

"I'm the new office-boy," said the urchin, "wishin' to be respectable
and leave street-'awking, which ain't what it was. M'name's Tray, an'
I've seen you afore, mister. I 'elped to pull you out from them wheels
with the 'aughty gent as guv me a bob fur doin' it."

"Oh, so you helped," said Paul, smiling. "Well, here is another
shilling. I am much obliged to you, Master Tray. But from what Deborah
Junk says you were a guttersnipe. How did you get this post?"

"I talked m'self int' it," said Tray, importantly. "Newspapers ain't
good enough, and you gets pains in wet weather. So I turns a good
boy"--he grinned evilly--"and goes to a ragged kids' school to do the
'oly. The superintendent ses I'm a promising case, and he arsked Mr.
Pash, as is also Sunday inclined, to 'elp me. The orfice-boy 'ere went,
and I come." Tray tossed the shilling and spat on it for luck as he
slipped it into the pocket of quite a respectable pair of trousers. "So
I'm on m'waiy to bein' Lord Mayor turn agin Wittington, as they ses in
the panymine."

"Well," said Beecot, amused, "I hope you will prove yourself worthy."

Tray winked. "Ho! I'm straight es long es it's wuth m'while. I takes
m'sal'ry 'ome to gran, and don't plaiy pitch an' torse n'more." He
winked again, and looked as wicked a brat as ever walked.

Paul had his doubts as to what the outcome of Mr. Pash's charity would
be, and, being amused, was about to pursue the conversation, when the
inner door opened and Pash, looking troubled, appeared. When he saw Paul
he started and came forward.

"I was just about to send Tray for you," said he, looking anxious.
"Something unpleasant has come to light in connection with Krill."

Beecot started and brought out the scrap of paper. "Look at that," he
said, "and you will see that the man warned Sylvia."

Pash glanced hurriedly over the pape