If ever Gerald Foster got a shock in his life it was seeing the cub of his fancy transformed into the handsome young man of reality. There he stood at the door, hat in hand, tall and noble-looking, quite a distinct being from the ordinary lounger of Regent Street and Hyde Park. Accustomed to rapid observation, Foster took the whole of that stalwart figure and honest countenance in at a glance, and with the sudden liking of instinct advanced towards him with outstretched hand. "Mr. Monteith I believe?" he said, as Ronald stepped into the room. "Yes," answered Ronald, grasping the proffered hand--and what an honest firm grip was that of the young Australian; "I sent my letter of introduction to you last night." "It is here," replied Foster, pointing to the table, as Ronald took his seat. "I am very glad to see you Mr. Monteith; my father was a great friend of your father's--let us hope the friendship will be hereditary." "It is very kind of you to say so," said Monteith, in some surprise, "I am quite a stranger to you." "You are," answered the young lawyer, "but I am a student of Lavater, and I can read faces--therefore, I say, I hope we shall be friends." "I'm certain we shall," said Ronald, heartily holding out his hand, which the other grasped again. "You had a pleasant voyage?" asked Foster, in a conversational manner. "Very, except for one incident." "Which I know all about,"--pointing to the newspaper. "I'm glad of that, because, I have just called to see you about it." "Eh!" said Foster sitting up in his chair; "by Jove, hope you'll put the case in my way. I was just thinking before you came in what a splendid chance was to make a name if one only had the case." "Well Mr. Foster," said Ronald, slowly, looking keenly at him, "I am very much interested in the case, Ventin was an intimate friend of mine, and as no one that I can hear of is going to try and clear up the mystery of his death, I am going to take that duty on my own shoulders." "I see," observed Foster nodding sagely; "and you want help?" "I do--your help." "You shall have it," cried Foster impulsively; "a subtle case like this is what I require to make my same. At present I am a briefless barrister, but give me the chance and I'm all right. Archimedes wanted a world whereon to rest his lever and move the earth. I am like the Greek. I have the lever--videlicet my brains, now I want a world, namely, a case--this, as far as I can gather from the papers, will be an excellent chance." "Then you shall have it," said Ronald heartily, "and I am only too glad to think I have such an enthusiastic worker." "So be it; now tell me the story in your own way; these newspaper accounts are so meagre." Whereupon Ronald told Foster all about the case, and his own suspicions regarding it, to all of which the young barrister listened carefully, then leaned back in his chair, and put the tips of his fingers together.