he time I can spare. Beyond what I have said I
shall say nothing. If you had known me better--you would not be here
still."

So I left him. His words gave me no loophole of hope. His silence was
the silence of a strong man, and I had no weapons with which to assail
it. I had wasted the money which I could ill afford on this journey to
London. Certainly Ray's advice was good. The sooner I was back in
Braster the better.

From the station I had walked straight to Ray's house, and from Ray's
house I returned, without any deviation, direct to the great terminus.
For a man with less than fifty pounds in the world London is scarcely a
hospitable city. I caught a slow train, and after four hours of
jolting, cold, and the usual third-class miseries, alighted at
Rowchester Junction. Already I had started on the three mile tramp
home, my coat collar turned up as some slight protection against the
drizzling rain, when a two-wheeled trap overtook me, and Mr. Moyat
shouted out a gruff greeting. He raised the water-proof apron, and I
clambered in by his side.

"Been to Sunbridge?" he inquired cheerfully.

"I have been to London," I answered.

"You haven't been long about it," he remarked. "I saw you on the
eight-twenty, didn't I?"

I nodded.

"My business was soon over," I said.

"I've been to Sunbridge," he told me. "Went over with his Grace. My
girl was talking about you the other night, Mr. Ducaine."

I started.

"Indeed?" I answered.

"Seemed to think," he continued, "that things had been growing a bit
rough for you, losing those pupils after you'd been at the expense of
taking the Grange, and all that, you know."

"It was rather bad luck," I admitted quietly.

"I've been wondering," he continued, with some diffidence, "whether
you'd care for a bit of work in my office, just to carry you along till
things looked up. Blanche, she was set upon it that I should ask you
anyway. Of course, you being a college young gentleman might not care
about it, but there's times when any sort of a job is better than none,
eh?"

"It is very kind of you, Mr. Moyat," I answered, "and very kind of Miss
Blanche to have thought of it. A week ago I shouldn't have hesitated.
But within the last few days I have had a sort of offer--I don't know
whether it will come to anything, but it may. Might I leave it open for
the present?"

I think that Mr. Moyat was a little disappointed. He flicked the cob
with the whip, and looked straight a