There was no one in the kitchen and after he had visited the sideboard in the parlour and concealed a bottle beneath his coat, he passed out and entered the shop, the door of which was unlocked, though it was too early for any of the men to have arrived. When he reached the upper floor the sound of stertorous breathing furnished the explanation—the master had not been a-bed, and was sleeping off his drunken fit in the office. Inman glanced at the unpleasant picture and then turned away contemptuously. “You’ve finished the whisky, I see,” he muttered. “‘All for my-sen,’ as usual! But I’ll return good for evil—you shall have a change this time. You’ll want a friend before the day’s out.” Whereupon he opened his coat and deposited the new bottle upon the shelf in the cupboard. Baldwin was far from sober when he awoke, and curtly refused his breakfast; but he consented to drink the cup of coffee Inman brought him, though not until a liberal measure of rum had been mixed with it. After that he brightened, but had more sense than to attempt to leave the office, and he had not moved from his chair when the lawyer’s clerk arrived close on noon. The transaction was completed in a few minutes; the gold counted by Baldwin and the clerk, and locked up in the safe. Then Inman drew himself erect and threw back his shoulders, but seeing himself observed by his master hid the satisfaction he felt, and said: “I wish it had been in a cheque; but I’ve had to gather it together from here and there, you see. I want Mr. Briggs to take it over to Keepton to-day and bank it, or else let me go earlier and break my journey.” He turned his eyes on his master as he spoke and contrived to allow a doubt of Baldwin’s ability to journey anywhere appear in them. Instantly there was a flash. “I daresay I can manage to mind my own business,” Mr. Briggs snapped. “Some folks is a damned sight too ready to put their fillings in. If _I_ take it I shall know where it is!” Mr. Jones laughed and Inman allowed himself to smile. “If you don’t get it in to-day, Mr. Briggs—though I think you’d do well to take Mr. Inman’s advice—you’d better sleep with the safe key under your pillow,” remarked the clerk facetiously. “I’m much obliged to both of you,” he replied with rising temper as he saw the humour on both faces and interpreted it to his disadvantage. “I can mebbe attend to my own business now ’at I reckon you’ll ha’ finished yours.” Mr. Jones recognised his mistake and at once resumed his professional air. “I am sure you can,” he said, as he closed his case and looked round for his hat. “Lawyers think it necessary to caution their clients, but of course, in your case it’s a mere formality. I wish you good-morning, Mr. Briggs.” “Take him down to t’ pub and give him his dinner before he goes,” said Baldwin, as he let his hand fall into the one the clerk proffered him.