“Oh, I see!” replied Mr. Browne, quite satisfied. “I do not remember Mr. Large’s address at this moment, but I will look through my books, and tell you directly. I hope her ladyship is quite well?” he concluded, as he began to turn over the leaves of a small manuscript book, stopping when he came to the letter “L,” which headed one of the pages. “Pretty well, thank you,” replied Sir Lawrence hesitatingly; but Mr. Browne did not hear. “Here it is!” he said at last; “Throgmorton Street, Danesbury Square, number ten.” Sir Lawrence rose at once, thanked him politely, and hurried off. He had to wait half an hour at the office before Mr. Large arrived, and was beginning to get very impatient, when that gentleman suddenly appeared before him. “I must apologize for keeping you waiting,” he said, with a courteous bow; “but I had to see a client at his own house this morning, and have not even had time to breakfast yet. Can I be of any use to you, Sir Lawrence?” “You certainly can, Mr. Large. I suppose we shall be private here?” “Quite so. My clerks would not disturb me themselves, or allow any one else to disturb me when I am busy.” “And they cannot overhear what we say?” “Most assuredly not.” In spite of this assurance, Sir Lawrence looked cautiously about him before he began, in a low voice: “You know, of course, Mr. Large, that my wife has left me?” Mr. Large bowed. He had no need to deny this. Sir Lawrence went on: “I must tell you that she has made a great mistake, Mr. Large. If I deserved such treatment at her hands I should only be too glad, naturally, to let matters remain as they are, and regain my liberty; but she has judged too hastily and superficially. I could explain things to her perfect satisfaction if she would grant me an interview, and I came here on purpose to ask you to tell her this, as she has left me no way of communicating this to her myself.” “I would willingly do what you ask, Sir Lawrence,” Mr. Large replied, “but Lady Gwendolyn has not at present given me any address. She took with her a check for three hundred and twenty pounds, being her half-year’s rent and dividends, and said, as she had not yet decided where to go, she would write to me later.” “What did she give as her reason for such an extraordinary step?” “She gave no reason.” “You astonish me!” exclaimed Sir Lawrence vehemently. “I fancied she would have accused me, in order to excuse herself.”