; and I hope, sir,
you will pardon the liberty I've taken in mentioning it to you."

Mr. Deedes was holding up a glass of wine to the light as the landlord
brought his little speech to a close. He sipped the wine slowly, with
his eyes bent on the floor; then he put down the glass and rubbed his
hands softly one within the other. Then he spoke.

"It happens, singularly enough," he said, "that a particular friend of
mine--Mr. Madgin, a gentleman, I daresay, whose name you have never
heard--spoke to me only three weeks ago about one of his people for whom
he was desirous of obtaining another situation, he himself being about
to break up his establishment and go to reside on the Continent. I will
write Mr. Madgin to-night, and if the young man has not engaged himself,
I will ask my friend to send him down here. He will have a first-class
testimonial, and I have no doubt he would suit M. Platzoff admirably. I
am obliged to you, landlord, for mentioning this matter to me."

Mr. Deedes went off at once to his room, and wrote and despatched the
following letter:--

"MY DEAR BOY,--I saw by an advertisement in last week's
_Era_ that you are still out of an engagement. I have an opening
for you down here in a drama of real life. It will be greatly to
your advantage to accept it, so do not hesitate for a moment. Come
without delay. Book yourself from Euston Square to Windermere. Take
steamer from the latter place to Newby Bridge. There, at the hotel,
await my arrival. Bear in mind that down here my name is _Mr.
Joshua Deedes_, and that yours is _James Jasmin_, a footman, at
present out of a situation. To a person of your intelligence I need
not say more.

"Your affectionate father,
"S.M.

"N.B.--This communication is secret and confidential. All expenses
paid. Do not on any account fail to come. I will be at the Newby
Bridge Hotel on Thursday morning at eleven."

This letter he addressed, "Mr. James Madgin, Royal Tabard Theatre,
Southwark, London." Having posted it with his own hands, he went for a
long, solitary ramble among the hills. He wanted to think out and
elaborate the great scheme that had unfolded itself before his dazzled
eyes while the landlord was talking to him. He had seen the whole
compass of it at a glance; he wanted now to consider it in detail. There
was an elation in his eye and an elasticity in h