ral; "but poor Myra has given me my orders, and I must be mum. Take
some more wine."

Guest took some more claret with pleasure, and thought that the subject
was to be changed, but it was not, for Sir Mark suddenly turned to him:

"I say: look here, my lad," he said. "This Stratton: is he mad?"

"No," said Guest sharply: "certainly not."

"Then what the deuce is the matter with him?"

"That's what I'm going to find out, Sir Mark."

But the days went by, and Guest appeared to get no farther, save only
that Stratton, in a despairing way, ceased to resent his friend's
determination to be with him. He even went so far, one evening in his
room in Sarum Street, as to show some return of his old confidence, for
he tossed a letter across the table.

"Read that," he said.

Guest took it, and saw that it was from the governors of the great
institution, suggesting that Stratton should resign his post for a
twelvemonth, and go away on half salary to recoup his health.

"Humph! Can't say I'm surprised," said Guest. "Have you written?"

"Yes, and resigned entirely."

"Where's the letter?" said Guest eagerly. "Gone?"

"No; it is here."

"Let's look."

Stratton handed him the letter, and Guest tore it up.

"Write that you accept their considerate proposal."

"I cannot."

"But you shall."

"If I wrote so, I should feel bound to leave town."

"Very good. I'll go with you--to the South Pole if you like."

"I shall never leave London," said Stratton gravely.

"Then stop here and get well. Write."

The weaker will obeyed the stronger, and, with a sigh of satisfaction,
Guest pocketed the letter to post.

"By the way," he said, "I came through the inn to-night on the chance of
finding you there."

Stratton's face grew stony.

"And old Mother Brade got hold of me to practice her tongue upon."

Stratton was silent, and sat gazing straight before him.

"Hadn't you better let the old woman have a general clean up?"

"I pay the rent of those chambers," said Stratton almost fiercely, "to
do with them as I please. No!"

"All right; tell her to go to Jericho, then. But look here, she was
asking me about Mr Brettison."

Stratton's countenance changed a little, either from excitement or
interest in his friend's words.

"Isn't it strange that he doesn't come back?"

"I don't know. No. He is peculiar in his ways. Sometimes I have not
seen him for months together."

"Oh," said Guest quietly; and soon