Lauriston spent the rest of that afternoon with Zillah, strolling about Kensington Gardens. He had lived a very lonely life since coming to London, and it was a new and pleasant experience to him to have an intelligent companion to talk to. There was a decided sense of exhilaration within him when he finally left her; as for Zillah, she went homewards in a very thoughtful mood, already conscious that she was more than half in love with this good-looking lad who had come so strangely into her life. And at the corner of Praed Street she ran up against Mr. Melky Rubinstein, and button-holed him, and for ten minutes talked seriously to him. Melky, who had good reasons of his own for keeping in his cousin's favour, listened like a lamb to all she had to say, and went off promising implicit obedience to her commandments. "Zillah ain't half gone on that chap!" mused Melky, as he pursued his way. "Now, ain't it extraordinary that a girl who'll come into a perfect fortune should go and fall head over ears in love with a red-headed young feller what ain't got a penny to bless hisself with! Not but what he ain't got good looks--and brains. And brains is brains, when all's said!" That night, as Lauriston sat writing in his shabby little room, a knock came at his door--the door opened, and Melky slid in, laying his finger to the side of his large nose in token of confidence. "Hope I ain't interrupting," said Melky. "I say, mister, I been thinking about that catalogue business. Now I come to sort of reflect on it, I think my friend'll go to ten pound. So we'll say ten pound--what? And I'll take you to see him next Friday. And I say, mister--if a pound or two on account 'ud be of any service--say the word, d'ye see?" With this friendly assurance, Melky plunged his hand into a hip-pocket, and drew out some gold, which he held towards Lauriston on his open palm. "Two or three pound on account, now, mister?" he said, ingratiatingly. "You're welcome as the flowers in May!" But Lauriston shook his head; he had already decided on a plan of his own, if the expected remittance did not arrive next morning. "No, thank you," he answered. "It's uncommonly good of you--but I can manage very well indeed--I can, really! Next Friday, then--I'll go with you. I'm very much obliged to you." Melky slipped his money into his pocket--conscious of having done his part. "Just as you like, mister," he said. "But you was welcome, you know. Next Friday, then--and you can reckon on cash down for this job."