Mr. Verrall went back to his viscount, who by that time was striding explosively up and down the room. Mr. Brompton sat down to his paper again, and his interesting news of the Insolvency Court. In one of the most charming villas on the banks of the Thames, a villa which literally lacked nothing that money could buy, sat Mrs. Verrall at a late breakfast, on that same morning. She jumped up with a little scream at the sight of George Godolphin crossing the velvet lawn. "What bad news have you come to tell me? Is Charlotte killed? Or is Lady Godolphin's Folly on fire?" "Charlotte was well when I left her, and the Folly standing," replied George, throwing care momentarily to the winds, as he was sure to do in the presence of a pretty woman. "She _will_ be killed, you know, some day with those horses of hers," rejoined Mrs. Verrall. "What have you come for, then, at this unexpected hour? When Verrall arrived last night, he said you were giving a dinner at Prior's Ash." "I want to see Verrall. Is he up yet?" "Up! He was up and away ages before I awoke. He went up early to the office." George paused. "I have been to the office, and Mr. Brompton said he did not know whether he would be there to-day at all." "Oh, well, _I_ don't know," returned Mrs. Verrall, believing she might have made an inconvenient admission. "When he goes up to town, I assume he goes to the office; but he may be bound to the wilds of Siberia for anything I can tell." "When do you expect him home?" asked George. "I did not ask him," carelessly replied Mrs. Verrall. "It may be to-day, or it may be next month. What will you take for breakfast?" "I will not take anything," returned George, holding out his hand to depart. "But you are not going again in this hasty manner! What sort of a visit do you call this?" "A hasty one," replied George. "I must be at Prior's Ash this afternoon. Any message to Charlotte?" "Why--yes--I have," said Mrs. Verrall, with some emphasis. "I was about to despatch a small parcel this very next hour to Charlotte, by post. But--when shall you see her? To-night?" "I can see her to-night if you wish it." "It would oblige me much. The truth is, it is something I ought to have sent yesterday, and I forgot it. Be sure and let her have it to-night." Mrs. Verrall rang, and a small packet, no larger than a bulky letter, was brought in. George took it, and was soon being whirled back to London. He stepped into a cab at the Waterloo Station, telling the man he should have double pay if he drove at double speed: and it conveyed him to Mr. Verrall's chambers. George went straight to Mr. Brompton's room, as before. That gentleman had finished his _Times_, and was buried deep in a pile of letters. "Is Mr. Verrall in now?" asked George. "He is here now, Mr. Godolphin. He was here two minutes after you departed: it's a wonder you did not meet."