nce. You will be
relieved to hear that I am rich, sir, very rich. You can't go into this
sort of thing too thoroughly, Pitman; the whole secret is preparation,
and I can get up my biography from the beginning, and I could tell it
you now, only I have forgotten it."

"Perhaps I'm stupid----" began Pitman.

"That's it!" cried Michael. "Very stupid; but rich too--richer than I
am. I thought you would enjoy it, Pitman, so I've arranged that you were
to be literally wallowing in wealth. But then, on the other hand, you're
only an American, and a maker of india-rubber overshoes at that. And the
worst of it is--why should I conceal it from you?--the worst of it is
that you're called Ezra Thomas. Now," said Michael, with a really
appalling seriousness of manner, "tell me who we are."

The unfortunate little man was cross-examined till he knew these facts
by heart.

"There!" cried the lawyer. "Our plans are laid. Thoroughly
consistent--that's the great thing."

"But I don't understand," objected Pitman.

"O, you'll understand right enough when it comes to the point," said
Michael, rising.

"There doesn't seem any story to it," said the artist.

"We can invent one as we go along," returned the lawyer.

"But I can't invent," protested Pitman. "I never could invent in all my
life."

"You'll find you'll have to, my boy," was Michael's easy comment, and he
began calling for the waiter, with whom he at once resumed a sparkling
conversation.

It was a downcast little man that followed him. "Of course he is very
clever, but can I trust him in such a state?" he asked himself. And when
they were once more in a hansom, he took heart of grace.

"Don't you think," he faltered, "it would be wiser, considering all
things, to put this business off?"

"Put off till to-morrow what can be done to-day?" cried Michael, with
indignation. "Never heard of such a thing! Cheer up, it's all right, go
in and win--there's a lion-hearted Pitman!"

At Cannon Street they inquired for Mr. Brown's piano, which had duly
arrived, drove thence to a neighbouring mews, where they contracted for
a cart, and while that was being got ready, took shelter in the
harness-room beside the stove. Here the lawyer presently toppled against
the wall and fell into a gentle slumber; so that Pitman found himself
launched on his own resources in the midst of several staring loafers,
such as love to spend unprofitable days about a stable.

"Rough day, sir," observ