His banker now held one or two hundred pounds to his credit, and he began to look upon the success of his literary venture as _un fait accompli_. There was just one little thing that annoyed him: his newly found literary friends were extremely solicitous to know when his further productions would appear in the _Olympic_. This was a poser, for he had not the least idea himself. He got out of the difficulty, however, by saying that the principal editor being on the continent, there would be nothing definitely arranged until his return. As will be remembered, Nan’s restrictions did not prevent him from contributing to the _Olympic_ in his own name; so, immediately after his arrival in London, he set to work and wrote a sketch called ‘Student Life in Brussels.’ The manuscript was duly sent, and duly returned in a few days with a printed note indicating the editor’s regret at being unable to make use of the paper. This was discouraging; but then he reflected that taste in literary things was very fickle; so he wrote a heavy article on Fair Trade, and sent it on; but the result was the same. About this time, he heard that Mr Hannay had gone to St Petersburg with a friend to enjoy the winter festivities of the gay northern capital. As he was not expected home for two or three months, Alfred had a good excuse till then for the non-appearance of any further work of his in the _Olympic_. In the meantime he gave himself up to the charming gaieties and pleasant little dissipations of the circle that had made quite a lion of him. He rather liked the homage these people paid him; true, they were mentally his inferiors, he thought; but then they had money, position, and influence, and might be made useful to him in the future. He began to think—sometimes with a feeling bordering on regret—of his engagement to the innkeeper’s daughter. How much better he could do now, if he were free! However, he would be true to his engagement. Only, Nan must be reasonable, and wait; at the end of two or three years, when his name was famous and his position thoroughly assured, he would marry her. To do so now would be extremely prejudicial to his interests, and must not be thought of for a moment. O no; she must wait patiently till it suited his convenience; and wouldn’t she gladly do so? Of course, for wasn’t the girl madly in love with him?