wer did Sir Horace give to your letter?" asked Billy.

"I forget; I believe he never replied to it, or if he did, I have no
memory of what he said. Stay,--there was a letter of his taken from me
when I was arrested at Carrara. The seal was unbroken at the time."

"I remember the letter was given to the Minister, who has it still in
his keeping."

"What care I," cried Massy, angrily, "in whose hands it may be?"

"The Minister is not here now," said Billy, half speaking to himself,
"he is travelling with the Duke; but when he comes back--"

"When he comes back!" burst in Massy, impatiently; "with what calm
philosophy you look forward to a remote future. I tell you that this
scheme is now a part and parcel of my very existence. I can turn to no
other project, or journey no other road in life, till at least I shall
have tried it!"

"Well, it is going to work in a more humble fashion," said Billy,
calmly. "Leave me to dispose of all these odds and ends here--"

"This trash!" cried the youth, fiercely. "Who would accept it as a
gift?"

"Don't disparage it; there are signs of genius even in these things;
but, above all, don't meddle with me, but just leave me free to follow
my own way. There now, go back and employ yourself preparing for the
road; trust the rest to me."

Massy obeyed without speaking. It was not, indeed, that he ventured
to believe in Traynor's resources, but he was indisposed to further
discussion, and longed to be in solitude once more.

It was late at night when they met again. Charles Massy was seated at a
window of his room, looking out into the starry blue of a cloudless sky,
when Traynor sat down beside him. "Well," said he, gently, "it's all
done and finished. I have sold off everything, and if you will only
repair the hand of the Faun, which I broke in removing, there's nothing
more wanting."

"That much can be done by any one," said Massy, haughtily. "I hope never
to set eyes on the trumpery things again."

"But I have promised you would do it," said Traynor, eagerly.

"And how--by what right could you pledge yourself for my labor? Nay,"
cried he, suddenly changing the tone in which he spoke, "knowing my
wilful nature, how could you answer for what I might or might not do?"

"I knew," said Billy, slowly, "that you had a great project in your
head, and that to enable you to attempt it, you would scorn to throw all
the toil upon another."

"I never said I was ashamed of labor," said t