ers who shook him into it obsequiously, he came back to the
box where Mark was sitting in a relieved but still vaguely
uncomfortable frame of mind.

'I don't want to 'ave many words with you about this,' he began with a
sternness that was not unimpressive. 'If I was to let myself out in
'ere, I should go too far. I'll only just tell you this much; this is
the second time you've played me this trick, and it's the last! I
warned you before that I should have done with you if you did it
again: you'll 'ave no more chances like the last, so mind that. Take
care of that cheque, you needn't fear I shall stop it, but you won't
get many more out o' me. And now I'll bid you good-day, young
gentleman; I'm goin' to Kensington, and then I shall do a little
littery composing on my own account, since it's so pop'lar, and get
Ferret to help me with it. I'm not one of your littery men, but I
dessey I can compose something yet that'll be read some day with a
good deal of interest; it won't be pleasant reading for you, though, I
can tell yer!'

He went noisily out, the waiters staring after him and the people
looking up from their boxes as he passed, and Mark was left to his own
reflections, which were of a mixed order.

He had accomplished his main object--his slavery was over, and he felt
an indescribable relief at the thought; still, he could not avoid the
suspicion that his freedom might have been dearly purchased. His
uncle's words had pointed to a state of things in which he would have
benefited to a considerable extent under his will, and that was over
now. Would it not have been worth while to endure a little longer--but
Mark felt strongly that it would not. With such prospects as he now
saw opening before him, the idea of submitting himself to an old man's
ambitious whims for the sake of a reward which might, after all, be
withheld at last was utterly revolting. He felt a certain excitement,
too, at the idea of conquering the world single-handed.

When he left the 'Cock' he walked slowly and irresolutely down the
Strand. 'If I go home now I shall find _him_ blustering there. I don't
feel equal to any more of him just now,' he thought.

He had no club to go to at that time, so he went and read the papers,
and drank coffee at a cigar divan until it was late enough to dine,
and after dinner tried to drown his care by going to see one of those
anomalous productions--a 'three-act burlesque'--at a neighbouring
theatre, which he s