ready for its owner.

At the end Falbe gave a long sigh.

"And why the devil didn't you give me any hint of it before?" he asked.

"I didn't think it mattered," said Michael.

"Well, then, you are amazingly wrong. Good Lord, it's about the most
interesting thing I've ever heard. I didn't know anybody could escape
from that awful sort of prison-house in which our--I'm English now--in
which our upper class immures itself. Yet you've done it. I take it that
the thing is done now?"

"I'm not going back into the prison-house again, if you mean that," said
Michael.

"And will your father cut you off?" asked he.

"Oh, I haven't the least idea," said Michael.

"Aren't you going to inquire?"

Michael hesitated.

"No, I'm sure I'm not," he said. "I can't do that. It's his business.
I couldn't ask about what he had done, or meant to do. It's a sort
of pride, I suppose. He will do as he thinks proper, and when he has
thought, perhaps he will tell me what he intends."

"But, then, how will you live?" asked Falbe.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you that. I've got some money, quite a lot, I
mean, from my grandmother. In some ways I rather wish I hadn't. It would
have been a proof of sincerity to have become poor. That wouldn't have
made the smallest difference to my resolution."

Falbe laughed.

"And so you are rich, and yet go second-class," he said. "If I were rich
I would make myself exceedingly comfortable. I like things that are
good to eat and soft to touch. But I'm bound to say that I get on
quite excellently without them. Being poor does not make the smallest
difference to one's happiness, but only to the number of one's
pleasures."

Michael paused a moment, and then found courage to say what for the last
two days he had been longing to give utterance to.

"I know; but pleasures are very nice things," he said. "And doesn't it
seem obvious now that you are coming to Munich with me? It's a purely
selfish suggestion on my part. After being with you it will be very
stupid to be alone there. But it would be so delightful if you would
come."

Falbe looked at him a moment without speaking, but Michael saw the light
in his eyes.

"And what if I have my pride too?" he said. "Then I shall apologise for
having made the proposal," said Michael simply.

For just a second more Falbe hesitated. Then he held out his hand.

"I thank you most awfully," he said. "I accept with the greatest
pleasure."

Michael drew a long br