g no inscription, was recognized by the visitor as the design for
the enlargement and restoration of Stancy Castle. When he had glanced it
over Dare sat down.

The doors between the office and private room were double; but the one
towards the office being only ajar Dare could hear a conversation in
progress within. It presently rose to an altercation, the tenor of which
was obvious. Somebody had come for money.

'Really I can stand it no longer, Mr. Havill--really I will not!' said
the creditor excitedly. 'Now this bill overdue again--what can you
expect? Why, I might have negotiated it; and where would you have been
then? Instead of that, I have locked it up out of consideration for you;
and what do I get for my considerateness? I shall let the law take its
course!'

'You'll do me inexpressible harm, and get nothing whatever,' said
Havill. 'If you would renew for another three months there would be no
difficulty in the matter.'

'You have said so before: I will do no such thing.'

There was a silence; whereupon Dare arose without hesitation, and walked
boldly into the private office. Havill was standing at one end, as
gloomy as a thundercloud, and at the other was the unfortunate creditor
with his hat on. Though Dare's entry surprised them, both parties seemed
relieved.

'I have called in passing to congratulate you, Mr. Havill,' said Dare
gaily. 'Such a commission as has been entrusted to you will make you
famous!'

'How do you do?--I wish it would make me rich,' said Havill drily.

'It will be a lift in that direction, from what I know of the
profession. What is she going to spend?'

'A hundred thousand.'

'Your commission as architect, five thousand. Not bad, for making a few
sketches. Consider what other great commissions such a work will lead
to.'

'What great work is this?' asked the creditor.

'Stancy Castle,' said Dare, since Havill seemed too agape to answer.
'You have not heard of it, then? Those are the drawings, I presume, in
the next room?'

Havill replied in the affirmative, beginning to perceive the manoeuvre.
'Perhaps you would like to see them?' he said to the creditor.

The latter offered no objection, and all three went into the
drawing-office.

'It will certainly be a magnificent structure,' said the creditor, after
regarding the elevations through his spectacles. 'Stancy Castle: I had
no idea of it! and when do you begin to build, Mr. Havill?' he inquired
in mollified tones.