becoming director in some railway company. The company proved a
bubble; all turned their indignation on the one rich man who could pay
where others cheated. Gunston was ruined--purse and character--fled to
Calais; and there, less than seven years ago, when in great distress,
he received from poor Willy a kind, affectionate, forgiving letter, and
L100. I have this from Gunston's nearest relation, to whom he told it,
crying like a child. Willy gave no address! but it is clear that at the
time he must have been too well off to turn mountebank at your miserable
exhibition. Poor, dear, rascally, infamous, big-hearted Willy," burst
out the Colonel. "I wish to heaven he had only robbed me!"

"Sir," said Lionel, "rely upon it, that man you described never robbed
any one--'tis impossible."

"No--very possible!--human nature," said Alban Morley. "And, after all,
he really owed Gunston that L100. For, out of the sum stolen, Gunston
received anonymously, even before the trial, all the missing notes,
minus about that L100; and Willy, therefore, owed Gunston the money, but
not, perhaps, that kind, forgiving letter. Pass on--quick--the
subject is worse than the gout. You have heard before the name of
Losely--possibly. There are many members of the old Baronet's family;
but when or where did you hear it?"

"I will tell you; the man who holds the bill (ah, the word sickens me)
reminded me when he called that I had seen him at my mother's house--a
chance acquaintance of hers--professed great regard for me--great
admiration for Mr. Darrell--and then surprised me by asking if I had
never heard Mr. Darrell speak of Mr. Jasper Losely."

"Jasper!" said the Colonel; "Jasper!--well, go on." "When I answered,
'No,' Mr. Poole (that is his name) shook his head, and muttered: 'A sad
affair--very bad business--I could do Mr. Darrell a great service if he
would let me;' and then went on talking what seemed to me impertinent
gibberish about 'family exposures' and 'poverty making men desperate,'
and 'better compromise matters;' and finally wound up by begging me, 'if
I loved Mr. Darrell, and wished to guard him from very great annoyance
and suffering, to persuade him to give Mr. Poole an interview.' Then he
talked about his own character in the City, and so forth, and entreating
me 'not to think of paying him till quite convenient; that he would keep
the bill in his desk; nobody should know of it; too happy to do me a
favour'--laid his card on the t