Collins made an impatient gesture. "Advice--why to emigrate and try your luck in the Colonies." "H'm, h'm," said Jones. "Yes, I remember, but since then I have been thinking things out. I'm going to stay here and make good." Again the lawyer made a gesture of impatience. "You know your financial position as well as I do," said he. "How are you to make good, as you express it, against that position? You can't, you are hopelessly involved, held at every point. A month ago I told you to reduce your establishment and let Carlton House Terrace; you said you would and you didn't. That hurt me. I would much sooner you had refused the suggestion. Well, the crash if it does not come to-day will come to-morrow. You are overdrawn at Coutts', you can raise money on nothing, your urgent debts to tradesmen and so forth amount, as you told me the day before yesterday, to over two thousand five hundred pounds. See for yourself how you stand." "I say again," said Jones, "that I am going to make good. All these affairs seem to have gone to pieces because--I have been a fool." "I'm glad you recognise that." "But I'm a fool no longer. You know that business about Voles?" The man of affairs nodded. "Well, what do you think of that?" He took Voles' cheque from his pocket and laid it before the lawyer. "Why, what is this?" said the other. "Eight thousand pounds." "He called on me for more blackmail," replied Jones, "and I squeezed him, called in a--policeman, made him disgorge, and there's his cheque. Do you, think he has money enough to meet it?" "Oh, yes, he is very wealthy, but you told me _distinctly_ he had only got a thousand out of you." Jones swore mentally. To take up the life and past of a rogue is bad, to take up the life and past of a weak-kneed and shifty man is almost worse. "I told you wrong," said he. Collins suppressed a movement of irritation and disgust. He was used to dealing with Humanity. "What can a doctor do for a patient who holds back essential facts?" asked he. "Nothing. How can I believe what you say?" "I don't know," replied the other. "But I just ask you to. I ask you to believe I'm changed. I've had a shock that has altered my whole nature. I'm not the same man who talked to you the day before yesterday." Collins looked at him curiously. "You have altered," said he, "your voice is different, somehow, too. I am not going to ask you _what_ has brought about this change in your views. I only trust it may be so--and permanent." "Bedrock," said Jones. "I'm going to begin right now. I'm going to let that caravan--" "Caravan!" "The Carlton House place, your idea is good, will you help me through with it? I don't know how to start letting places." "I will certainly assist you. In fact I believe I can get you a tenant at once. The Bracebridges want just such a house, furnished. I will get my clerk to write to them--if you really mean it." "I mean it."