"What am I to do?" he said. "I have been relying on the commissionership that Stephen promised, and Moss seemed quite willing to wait. I can't find any money." Leonard shook his head. "The man was furious. Worse than I have ever seen him. You will have to find some money somewhere. How much do you owe him?" Jack tilted his hat on one side and scratched his head. "Hanged if I know. He has let me have a great deal lately. Five hundred, perhaps." "Jack, you have been a fool," said Leonard. "I told you that it was no use counting upon the place your cousin Stephen promised you." "I don't so much care for myself, but Una, Una," said Jack, with a groan. Then he jumped up. "Let us go and get some dinner, and think it over." They went to a well-known house in Strand, and Jack, careless Jack, ordered a dinner fit for a prince, and enjoyed it as he would have enjoyed it if he had been going to be hanged on the morrow. "I don't understand Moss," he said. "He was everything that was agreeable and pleasant a few days ago." "And today he was like a wolf hunting for a bone," said Leonard. "Hello, who's this?" for a gentleman had entered the dining-room and approached their table. "Why, it's Stephen!" exclaimed Jack, forgetting Moss in a moment. "Just in time, Stephen, we'll have another bottle of claret up. What on earth brings you to town? And how is--how are they all?" Stephen sat down with a grave smile, and just sipped the claret, the best the house had on its list. And he sat and talked till the wine was finished, the greater part of which Jack drank, then he said: "Jack, I want you to come to my chambers; I have something to tell you." "All right," said Jack. "Leonard can find his way home very well." Stephen called a hansom, and they were rattled away to the Albany. As they ascended the stairs, Stephen laid his hand on Jack's arm. "Jack, I am sorry to say I have bad news for you. You will be calm." "Bad news!" said Jack, and his heart stood still. "What is it? Una----" "Yes," said Stephen; "it is about Una. You will be calm, my dear Jack?" Jack leaned against the balustrade and drew a long breath. "Is she ill--dead?" he gasped. "Neither," said Stephen. "Come, be a man." "I am ready," said Jack. "If she is neither ill nor dead I can bear anything else." Stephen opened the door, and Jack, entering, saw Gideon Rolfe standing on the hearthrug. "Mr. Rolfe!" he exclaimed. "How do you do? I am very glad to see you!" and he held out his hand. Gideon Rolfe nodded and turned aside. "What is it? What is the matter?" asked Jack, turning to Stephen, who had carefully closed the door and stood with knitted brow and sad countenance. At Jack's question he glanced at Rolfe, and then, with a sigh, said: "Yes, Jack, I will tell you. It will come better from me than Mr. Rolfe. Jack, you were right in suspecting that the business referred to Una. She is quite well--and happy. But--but I am afraid your engagement must cease."