"Yes, you'd better!" he said grimly. "There, I suppose you must do as you like." She nodded and kissed him affectionately, while he seemed to look less firm in the pleasant light shed by her eyes as he handed her the keys of his cash-box. "Now then, dear," she said, "business. Bless us! Who's that?" There was a sharp rolling knock at the door, and they stood listening. "I hope we're not too late, dear," whispered Mrs Barclay excitedly. "Denville's voice for a guinea," cried Barclay. "Then you can tell him all, and you two can go and stop any attempt the silly little woman may make to run away." "Mr Denville, sir," said Joseph, ushering in the Master of the Ceremonies, very pale and careworn under his smiling guise, as he minced into the room, hat in one hand, snuff-box in the other, and his cane hanging by its silken cord and tassels from his wrist. "My dear Mrs Barclay, your very humble servant. My dear Barclay, yours. It seems an age since we met." "Oh, poor dear man!" sighed Mrs Barclay to herself. "He can't know a word." She exchanged glances with Barclay, who gave her a nod. "You will excuse me, Mr Denville," she said. "A little business to attend to. I'll come back and see you before you go." "I should apologise," said Denville, smiling and bowing as he hastened to open the door for her to pass out; and as he closed it he groaned as he said to himself: "She does not ask after my children." "Sit down, Denville," said Barclay; "you've come to pay me some money, eh?" "Well--er--the fact is--no, Barclay, not just at present. I must ask you to give me a little more time. Morton, my son, you see, is only just launched. He is getting on, but at present I must ask a little forbearance. Interest, of course, but you will wait a little longer?" "Humph! Well, I suppose I must, and--come, Denville, out with it. What's the matter, man? Some fresh trouble?" Denville had been playing uneasily with his snuff-box, and taking up and setting down his hat, glancing nervously about the room. As Barclay spoke in this abrupt way to him, he started and stared wildly at the speaker. "Oh! nothing, nothing," he said, smiling. "I was only coming this way. Ha--ha--ha! my dear Barclay, you thought I wanted a little accommodation. No, no, not this time. The fact is, I understood that my daughter, Miss Denville, had come on here. I expected to find her with Mrs Barclay--a lady I esteem--a lady of whom my daughter always speaks most warmly. Has she--er--has she called here this evening?" "Miss Denville was here a short time since." "And has gone?" said Denville nervously. "She--she--is coming back here?" "I think so. Yes, I believe my wife said she was; but, hang it, Denville, why don't you speak out, man? What's the matter? Perhaps I can help you." "Help me?" faltered the miserable man. "No; it is not a case where money could assist me."