A neighbor on visiting terms expressed his opinion that for all the workmen had done he could discern no material difference in the structure of the house, and from his point of view the house presented the same appearance after the foreign builders left, as it did before their advent. Mr. Spedding met all carelessly-applied questions concerning the extent of the structural alterations with supreme discretion. He spoke vaguely about a new system of ventilation, and hinted at warmth by radiation. Suburbia loves to show off its privately conceived improvements to property, but Mr. Spedding met veiled hints of a desire to inspect his work with that comfortable smile which was so valuable an asset of his business. It was a few evenings after the scene in the Lombard Street Deposit that Mr. Spedding sat in solitude before his modest dinner at Clapham. An evening newspaper lay by the side of his chair, and he picked it up at intervals to read again the paragraph which told of the release of the “Borough Lot.” The paragraph read:-- “The men arrested in connection with the gambling raid at Poplar were discharged to-day, the police, it is understood, failing to secure sufficient evidence to justify a prosecution.” The lawyer shook his head doubtfully. “I rather like Angel Esquire’s definition,” he said with a wry smile. “It is a neat method of saving the face of the police, but I could wish that the ‘Borough Lot’ were out of the way.” Later he had occasion to change his opinion. A tap at the door preceded the entry of a sedate butler. The lawyer looked at the card on the tray, and hesitated; then, “Show him in,” he said. Jimmy came into the room, and bowed slightly to the elder man, who rose at his entrance. They waited in silence till the servant had closed the door behind him. “To what am I indebted?” began the lawyer, and motioned his visitor to a seat. “May I smoke?” asked Jimmy, and Mr. Spedding nodded. “It is in the matter of Reale’s millions,” said Jimmy, and allowed his eyes to follow the cloud of smoke he blew. “I thought it was understood that this was a subject which might only be discussed at my office and in business hours?” said the lawyer sharply, and Jimmy nodded again. “You will confess, Mr. Spedding,” he said easily, “that the Reale will is sufficiently unconventional to justify any departure from established custom on the part of the fortunate or unfortunate legatees.” Mr. Spedding made an impatient movement of his hand. “I do not inquire into your business,” Jimmy went on smoothly enough, “and I am wholly incurious as to in what strange manner you became acquainted with your late client, or what fees you received to undertake so extraordinary a commission; but I am satisfied that you are recompensed for such trifling inconveniences as--say an after-dinner visit from myself.”