news, too, from that fellow Dando in Queensland, who declared
that his smelting process, gradually improved, had begun to yield
results, and talked of starting a new company. Hugh's business of the
morning had been in this connection: by inquiry in the City he had
learnt that Dando's report might be relied upon, and that capital which
had seemingly vanished would certainly yield a small dividend this
year. He was thankful that he could face Mrs. Larkfield without the
shame of interested motives. Let her do what she liked with her money;
he went to see the woman merely out of humane feeling, sense of duty;
and assuredly no fortune-hunter had ever imposed upon himself a more
distasteful office.

On alighting at the station, he found that the only coin, other than
gold, which he had in his pocket was a shilling. In accordance with
usage, he would have given the cabman an extra sixpence, had he
possessed it. When the man saw a tender of his legal fare, he, also in
accordance with usage, broadened his mouth, tossed the coin on his
palm, and pointedly refrained from thanks. At another time Hugh might
have disregarded this professional suavity, but a little thing
exasperated his present mood.

'Well?' he exclaimed, in a voice that drew the attention of everyone
near. 'Is it your fare or not? Learn better manners, vicious brute!'

Before the driver could recover breath to shout a primitive insult,
Hugh walked into the station. Here, whilst his wrath was still hot, a
man tearing at full speed to catch a train on another platform bumped
violently against him. He clenched his fist, and, but for the gasped
apology, might have lost himself in blind rage. As it was, he inwardly
cursed railway stations, cursed England, cursed civilisation. His
muscles were quivering; sweat had started to his forehead. A specialist
in nervous pathology would have judged Hugh Carnaby a dangerous person
on this Monday afternoon.

He took his ticket, and, having some minutes to wait, moved towards the
bookstall. By his side, as he scanned the papers, stood a lady who had
just made a purchase; the salesman seemed to have handed her
insufficient change, for she said to him, in a clear, business-like
voice, 'It was half-a-crown that I gave you.'

At the sound of these words, Hugh turned sharply and looked at the
speaker. She was a woman of thirty-five, solidly built, well dressed
without display of fashion; the upper part of her face was hidden by a
g