“What keeps one at home scarcely goes as far in London.” “That allowance was fixed when you went to Oxford and has never been changed. Many a man has less on which to bring up a family. It should stand the strain of a few weeks in town.” Cyril was silent, biting his lips. He was not accustomed to be denied anything. “Well, I need not go, I suppose,” he said rather sullenly. “I can stay here and take my chance, of course.” “Yes, and help in the press of work which this outbreak will entail upon us all,” said his father rather sternly. “That is a thing which had never occurred to you, I suppose.” They were all rather surprised by the tone taken by the father towards Cyril, nobody more so than the young man himself. A thrill of dismay began to run through him. Something must have happened to change his father’s manner so completely. “Of course if I can be of any use——” he began nervously. “Well, that remains to be proved. You have not been much use in the world so far; but I think it is time your days of idling came to an end. Perhaps this emergency will give you your chance. Let us see during these next weeks the stuff of which you are made. Perhaps you will be able to make up for the purposelessness and shortcomings of the past year.” His father looked straight at him then, and Cyril cowered as under a blow. Then Mr. Tom rose and walked out of the room, followed by North, whilst Cyril turned anxiously to his mother and exclaimed— “What can he mean by that?” But the mother did not know. Her husband had said nothing to her that could explain his rather mysterious words. Had Cyril heard what passed between father and son in the study he would have some reason to tremble in earnest. “Have you discovered anything fresh, sir?” asked North, as they stood by the hearth. “Yes; the report of the detective came in during your absence this morning. Every note has at last been traced, and each one to Cyril. He passed one through young Lawrence, as you found out some time ago; another was cashed in London some time later; the third was a long while in being traced, but it was paid at last by a small cigar dealer in Romford. And it was elicited upon close inquiry that it had been presented by a man exactly answering to the description of Cyril, who had made a rather considerable purchase there, and had given the note in payment. Some of the boxes with this man’s stamp on them have been found in our rubbish bin. The case is complete in my estimation.” “And what are you going to do?”