"As soon as I have any news about the farms,
Mr. Trefalden, I will let you know."

With this they shook hands cordially and parted.

"I'll be bound that open-handed young fellow
has lent the Earl this money," he muttered, as
he locked the cheque away in his cash-box.
"Confound the aristocrats! They are all either
drones or hornets."

In the mean while, Saxon was tearing along
Cheapside on his way to Austin-Friars, eager to
secure Signor Nazzari's services while the Stock
Exchange was yet open, and full of joy in the
knowledge that he had saved his friend from ruin.

About two hours later, as he was walking
slowly across the open space in front of the
Exchange, having just left the Bank of England,
where he had found all his worst fears confirmed
in regard to the stock sold out by his cousin in
virtue of the power of attorney granted by
himself five months before, the young man was
suddenly brought to a pause by a hand upon his sleeve,
and a panting voice calling upon his name.

"Mr. Saxon Trefalden—beg pardon, sir—one
half minute, if you please!"

It was Mr. Keckwitch, breathless, pallid,
streaming with perspiration.

"One of our clerks, sir," he gasped, "'appened
to catch sight of you—gettin' out of a cab—top
of Bread-street. I've been followin' you—ever
since he came back. Mr. Behrens directed me
to Austin-Friars—from Austin-Friars sent on—
to Bank. And here I am!"

Saxon frowned; for his cousin's head clerk
was precisely the one person whom he had least
wished to meet.

"I am sorry, Mr. Keckwitch," he said, "that
you have put yourself to so much inconvenience."

"Bless you, sir, I don't regard the
inconvenience. The point is, have you learned
anything of the missing man?"

Saxon was so unused to dissemble, that after
a moment's hesitation he could think of no better
expedient than to ask a question in return.

"Have none of your emissaries learned
anything, Mr. Keckwitch?"

"No, sir, not at present. I've had three
telegrams this mornin'; one from Liverpool, one
from Southampton, and one from Glasgow, all
telling the same tale—no success. As for Mr.
Kidd, he has taken the London Docks for his line;
but he's done no better than other folks, up to this
time. If, however, you have made any way, sir,
why then we can't do better than follow your
lead."

They were close under the equestrian statue
of the Duke, when Saxon stopped short, and,
looking the head clerk full in the face, replied:

"Yes, Mr. Keckwitch, I do know something
of my cousin's movements, but it is my intention
to keep that knowledge to myself. You can
put a stop to all these useless inquiries. I
shall now retain this matter in my own hands."

"Not excludin' me from assistin' you, sir, I
hope?" exclaimed Keckwitch, anxiously." Of
course, if you have found a clue and it's your
pleasure to follow it yourself, that's only what
you've a right to do; but I'm a man of
experience, and I've done so much already to ..."

"I am obliged, Mr. Keckwitch, by what you
have done," said Saxon, "and shall make a point
of recompensing you for your trouble; but I
have no further need of your services."

"But, sir—but, Mr. Saxon Trefalden, you can't
mean to give me the go-by in this way? It ain't
fair, sir."

"Not fair, Mr. Keckwitch?"

"After my toilin' all the summer through as I
have toiled—after all the trouble I've taken, and
all the money I've spent, wormin' out the secrets
of your cousin's ways—you'd never have known
even so much as where he lived, but for me!"

"Mr. Keckwitch," said the young man, sternly,
"whatever you may have done, was done to please
yourself, I presume—to satisfy your own curiosity,
or to serve your own ends. It was certainly not
done for me. I do not consider that you have
any claim upon my confidence, nor even upon my
purse. However, as I said before, I shall
recompense you by-and-by as I see fit."

And with this, he hailed a cab, desired to be
driven to his chambers, and speedily vanished in
the throng of westward-bound vehicles, leaving the
head clerk boiling with rage and disappointment.

"Well, I'm cursed if that isn't a specimen of
ingratitude," muttered he. "Here's a purse-
proud upstart for you, to step in and rob an
honest man of his fair vengeance. Recompense,
indeed! Curse his recompense, and himself too.
I hate him. I wish he was dead. I hate the
whole tribe of Trefaldens. I wish they were all
dead, and that I had the buryin' of 'em."

Mr. Keckwitch repeated this agreeable
valediction to himself over and over again as he went
along.

On the 7th of December will be published THE EXTRA
CHRISTMAS DOUBLE NUMBER, entitled
DOCTOR MARIGOLD'S
PRESCRIPTIONS.
I. TO BE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY.
II. NOT TO BE TAKEN AT BED-TIME.
III. TO BE TAKEN AT THE DINNER-TABLE.
IV.  NOT TO BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED.
V. TO BE TAKEN IN WATER.
VI. TO BE TAKEN WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.
VII. TO BE TAKEN AND TRIED.
VIII.  TO BE TAKEN FOR LIFE.
Price Fourpence, stitched in a cover.

COMPLETION OF MR. CHARLES DICKENS'S NEW
WORK.
Now ready, in 2 vols., price 22s.,
OUR MUTUAL FRlEND.
With 40 Illustrations by MARCUS STONE.
London: CHAPMAN and HALL, 193, Piccadilly.