‘Oh, I really don’t know for certain,’ answered the doctor, folding his note and handing it in an open envelope to his visitor; ‘but I suppose he’ll be at his town house for a little time.’ ‘Where’s that?’ Birnie gave him the address. After all, he wasn’t committing an indiscretion, for it was in the Post Office Directory. People of a certain position in life are doomed. They may hide their heads in the sand of fancied privacy as much as they like, but the agents of Messrs. Kelly and Co. can see them. He who aspires to the dignity of rates, taxes, and a vote cannot shield himself from the fierce light of publicity which falls upon a registered address in the Post Office Directory. Marston thanked Birnie for the note and the information, and, lighting a cigar in the hall, was smiled to the front by Rebecca, who had been won over with a florin. It was Marston’s business now to make friends wherever he went. At the door the hansom that had brought him was still waiting. He gave the driver Grigg and Limpet’s address, and was rapidly whirled up Lilac Tree Road and out of sight. Birnie went back into his study and sat for a moment in deep thought. ‘I wonder what the deuce he’s up to now!’ he said to himself. ‘Some deep-laid scheme, or he’s altered considerably since the old days. It’s devilish unfortunate his turning up at all. Gurth’s a fool, but this man’s a rogue, and you never know how to be prepared for a rogue.’ It was hard on Birnie, now that he had settled down into a sober, useful, respectable life, that the fellow should turn up again and presume on their old acquaintanceship. And now if he was going to get thick with Egerton again. ‘By Jove!’ exclaimed Birnie, ‘I’ll nip that little game in the bud if I find it necessary.’ The next morning Mr. Brooks received a letter at his residence which very much astonished him. It was a letter from Messrs. Grigg and Limpet, informing him that they were instructed by Mr. Edward Marston to require the immediate payment of £100 and expenses on his dishonoured acceptance. To avoid further proceedings, Mr. Brooks was requested to remit the amount without delay. Mr. Brooks went off: to Eden Villa at once. ‘What the dickens does this mean?’ he exclaimed, flinging down the lawyers’ letter on the table. Marston looked at it and laughed. ‘It means I am going to show what can be done with capital and brains combined. Take this and pay your just debts at once, sir.’ Marston drew a hundred-pound note from his pocket-book and handed it to Brooks. Mr. Brooks took it mechanically. ‘I’m blest if I see what you’re up to now,’ he said. ‘That shows how much your firm stood in need of new blood. Send this note and the few shillings expenses, and then Grigg and Limpet will have recovered the debt.’ ‘And they’ll hand the money over to you,’ said Brooks. ‘I don’t see where the pull comes in.’