considerable portion of the
evening in making two large pockets inside a new waistcoat, one on each
side, between the lining and the cloth, and each of these was to contain
a will.

Stephen Philipson heard of his step-father's death, and soon appeared at
the office to know if the old man had really been as good, or bad, as
his word, and cut him off with a mere allowance. He asked to see
Daireh, with whom he had had a good many transactions.

"That was a real will, was it?" he asked.

"Real enough. I witnessed it."

"But it cannot be found, I hear."

"Oh, it will turn up at the funeral, never fear."

"I wish it might not."

"Why?"

"Because then, by the old will, I should come in for the lot."

"But if the old will is not forthcoming, or the new one, or any other,
the property devolves to the heir-at-law, Ralph Burke, and you will not
even get your allowance."

Philipson, whose nervous system was considerably shattered, was so
affected by this consideration, that Daireh thought it better to revive
him with a dram of hope.

"If I can see you privately, without fear of interruption, I may be able
to give you a useful hint," he said. "The funeral takes place on
Saturday, and if nothing is heard of a will then I will meet you next
day. Where are you staying?"

Philipson gave his present address and left, thinking to himself as he
walked up the street--

"I wonder what bit of roguery that scoundrel is up to now? If he has
got anything good for me I shall have to pay rarely for it. Well, I am
in too bad a way to care much for that; but he shall not bring me within
the reach of the law. I have no fancy for going to jail, where there's
no liquor to be got--not likely. None of that, Mr Nigger. If he will
take the risk I will pay the piper, and that is a fair enough division,
I think. But I wonder what his little game is!"

But Daireh never made that Sunday call on Philipson. For on Saturday
evening he heard a cry in the streets--"Important Arrest! Great Bond
Robbery! Scandalous Disclosures!"

He invested a penny in the evening paper, and carried it up to his room.

His fears were verified. It was Stebbings who had been arrested. He
had thought much about what he would do in such a case, and kept his
wits about him. Of course, the "Scandalous Disclosures" heading was
premature--inserted, indeed, to give a fillip to the sale of the paper.
But the disclosures would certainly come very soon, and t