If our hero had had fewer things to think about he would have gone first, I fancy, to Miss Grace Maubray. It could do no great harm, however, to feel his way a little with Lady May, he thought, as he chatted with that plump alternative of his tender dilemma. But in this wooing there was a difficulty of a whimsical kind. Poor Lady May was so easily won, and made so many openings for his advances, that he was at his wits' end to find evasions by which to postpone the happy crisis which she palpably expected. He did succeed, however; and with a promise of calling again, with the lady's permission, that evening, he took his leave. Before making his call at his uncle's house, in the hope of seeing Grace Maubray, he had to return to Mr. Blount, in Manchester Buildings, where he hoped to receive from that gentleman a report of his interview with Mr. Longcluse. I shall tell you here what that report related. Mr. Longcluse was fortunately still at his house when Mr. Blount called, and immediately admitted him. Mr. Longcluse's horse and groom were at the door; he was on the point of taking his ride. His gloves and whip were beside him on the table as Mr. Blount entered. Mr. Blount made his apologies, and was graciously received. His visit was, in truth, by no means unwelcome. "Mr. David Arden very well, I hope?" "Quite well, thanks. He has left town." "Indeed! And where has he gone--the moors?" "To Scotland, but not to shoot, I think. And he's going abroad then--going to travel." "On the Continent? How nice that is! What part?" "Switzerland and Italy, I think," said Mr. Blount, omitting all mention of Paris, where Mr. Arden was going first to make a visit to the Baron Vanboeren. "He's going over ground that I know very well," said Mr. Longcluse. "Happy man! He can't quite break away from his business, though, I daresay." "He never tells us where a letter will find him, and the consequence is his holidays are never spoiled." "Not a bad plan, Mr. Blount. Won't he visit the Paris Exhibition?" "I rather think not." "Can I do anything for you, Mr. Blount?" "Well, Mr. Longcluse, I just called to ask you a question. I have been invited to take part in arranging a little matter which I take an interest in, because it affects the Arden estates." "Is Sir Richard Arden interested in it?" inquired Mr. Longcluse, gently and coldly. "Yes, I rather fancy he would be benefited." "I have had a good deal of unpleasantness, and, I might add, a great deal of ingratitude from that quarter, and I have made up my mind never again to have anything to do with him or his affairs. I have no unpleasant _feeling_, you understand; no resentment; there is nothing, of course, he could say or do that could in the least affect me. It is simply that, having coolly reviewed his conduct, I have quite made up my mind to aid in nothing in which he has act, part, or interest." "It was not _directly_, but simply as a surety----"