"Don't you show your mind in managing that?" said Melky, admiringly. "What do I always say of you, Mrs. Goldmark? Don't I always say you're the smartest business woman in all Paddington? Ain't that having a mind? Oh, I think you've the beautifullest mind, Mrs. Goldmark!" With this compliment Melky left Mrs. Goldmark and Zillah, and went away to his lodgings. He was aware of a taxi-cab drawn up at Mrs. Flitwick's door as he went up the street; inside Mrs. Flitwick's shabby hall he found that good woman talking to a stranger--a well-dressed young gentleman, who was obviously asking questions. Mrs. Flitwick turned to Melky with an air of relief. "Perhaps you can tell this gentleman where Mr. Lauriston is, Mr. Rubinstein?" she said. "I ain't seen him since he went out first thing this morning." Melky looked the stranger over--narrowly. Then he silently beckoned him outside the house, and walked him out of earshot. "You ain't the friend from Scotland?" asked Melky. "Him what sent the bank-note, last night?" "Yes!" assented the stranger. "I see you're aware of that. My name is Purdie--John Purdie. Where is Lauriston? I particularly want to see him." Melky tapped the side of his nose, and whispered. "He's on his way to where you come from, mister!" he said. "Here!--I know who you are, and you'll know me in one minute. Come up to my sitting-room!" CHAPTER TWELVE THE FRIEND FROM PEEBLES Melky, as principal lodger in Mrs. Flitwick's establishment, occupied what that lady was accustomed to describe as the front drawing-room floor--a couple of rooms opening one into the other. Into one of these, furnished as a sitting-room, he now led Lauriston's friend, hospitably invited him to a seat, and took a quiet look at him. He at once sized up Mr. John Purdie for what he was--a well-to-do, well-dressed, active-brained young business man, probably accustomed to controlling and dealing with important affairs. And well satisfied with this preliminary inspection, he immediately plunged into the affair of the moment. "Mister," began Melky, pulling up a chair to Purdie's side, and assuming a tone and manner of implicit confidence. "I've heard of you. Me and Mr. Lauriston's close friends. My name's Mr. Rubinstein--Mr. Melchior Rubinstein, commonly called Melky. I know all about you--you're the friend that Lauriston asked for a bit of help to see him through, like--ain't it? Just so--and you sent him twenty pounds to be going on with--which he got, all right, last night. Also, same time, he got another twenty quid for two of his lit'ry works--stories, mister. Mister!--I wish he'd got your money and the other money just an hour before it come to hand! S'elp me!--if them there letters had only come in by one post earlier, it 'ud ha' saved a heap o' trouble!"