"A very short one. A party of friends are departing for Canada, and they wish me to make one of them. I think I shall do so." "To Canada!" echoed Cecil. "So far away!" Lord Averil smiled. "It sounds farther than it really is. I am an old traveller, you know." Cecil opened the dining-room door. Thomas was alone. He had left the table, and was seated in his armchair at the window. A glad smile illumined his face when he saw Lord Averil. Lord Averil was one of the very few of whom Thomas Godolphin could make a close friend. These close friends! Not above one, or two, can we meet with in a lifetime. Acquaintances many; but friends--those to whom the heart can speak out its inmost thoughts, who may be as our own soul--how few! Cecil left them alone. She ran off to tell Janet that Lord Averil had come, and would perhaps take tea with them, were he invited to do so. Thomas, with more hospitable ideas, was pressing dinner upon him. It could be brought back at once. "I have dined at the Bell," replied Lord Averil. "Not any, thank you," he added, as Thomas was turning to the wine. "I have taken all I require." "Have you come to make a long stay?" inquired Thomas--as Cecil had done. "I shall go back to town to-morrow. Having nothing to do with myself this evening, I thought I could not spend it better than with you. I am pleased to see that you are looking yourself." "The warm weather seems to be doing me good," was Thomas Godolphin's reply, a consciousness within him how little better he really was. "Why are you making so short a stay?" "Well, as it turns out, my journey has been a superfluous one. Those bonds that you hold of mine brought me down," continued Lord Averil, little thinking that he was doing mischief by mentioning the subject to Mr. Godolphin. "I am going to sell out, and came down to get them." "Why did you not write?" said Thomas. "We could have sent them to you." "I did write, a week or ten days ago, and your brother wrote me word in answer that the bonds should be sent--or something to that effect. But they never came. Having nothing much to do, I thought I would run down for them. I also wanted to see Max. But he is away." "I believe he is," replied Thomas. "Have you got the bonds?" "It has proved a useless journey, I say," replied Lord Averil. "The bonds, I find, are in town, at your agents'." Thomas Godolphin looked up with surprise. "They are not in town," he said. "What should bring them in town? Who told you that?" "Your brother George." "George told you the bonds were in town?" repeated Thomas, as if he could not believe his ears. "He did indeed: not three hours ago. Why? Are they not in town?" "Most certainly not. The bonds are in our strong-room, where they were first deposited. They have never been moved from it. What could George have been thinking of?"