‘I don’t want any fuss,’ he thought, as he put his burden down and paused for breath; ‘can’t afford to have it advertised that I played the good Samaritan. Evening paper paragraphs--“The Admirable Convict,” “Rattray Repents,” “Remarkable occurrence in connection with a scandal in high life, showing the beneficial influences of our prison system--Nephew and Uncle”--Good Lord!’ He wiped his brow, and propping his Uncle’s motionless form against a rail, went in search of a cab. He found a four-wheeler at the gate of the Park, and drove back in it. ‘Now, my friend, bear a hand,’ he said to the driver; ‘this gentleman’s had a stroke; we must get him home at once. Double fare, and look sharp--it’s the only chance.’ He gave the astonished man the address, and between them they lifted the helpless form into the cab. When they drew up at the house, Eugene leapt out and rang the bell. ‘Hope it’s Ashton,’ he thought. The old butler, a man who had known him from his youth up, opened the door, and recoiled in blank astonishment when he saw who was there. ‘Master Eugene!’ he said. ‘All right, Ashton, don’t make a row. Look here, my Uncle’s had a stroke; he’s in that cab; I came across him in the Park walking home; better get him in-doors at once. And look here, Ashton,’ he lifted his hat significantly, and said grimly, ‘you know all about me, I suppose; well, see that my name doesn’t come out in this business.’ He held out his hand to the old man. ‘Thank you, sir,’ said the butler, taking it, ‘always proud to take your hand, sir, believe me. I’ll make it all right,--say I picked him up myself, if necessary; you can depend on me, sir.’ ‘Thank you, Ashton,’ said Eugene; ‘and look here, give that chap a sovereign,’ he pointed to the cabman waiting at the door, ‘and lend me another, there’s a good fellow.’ The butler pulled two sovereigns out of his pocket. ‘Proud to be of any use to you, sir,’ he said. Eugene, with a choke in his throat, helped them carry his Uncle into the house; and as the door closed, turned to the cabman. ‘You haven’t earned that sovereign yet,’ he said, handing him one, ‘it’s all right, but you’ve got to shut your head--d’ye see? Now go on to the docks, and drive like Hell.’ He sat back in the cab that rattled eastwards through the fog, and he ground his teeth. ‘That’s over; and the Lord do so to me, and more also, if I’d do it again,’ he said between them; and with those words, Eugene Rattray disappeared from among his fellows, and the place thereof knew him no more. THE DEMI-GODS [Music] PROLOGUE Into the garden of rest had come trouble and pain, for the end was at hand.