"Of course," I replied warmly; "and let me beg of you, Mr Rowle, to be very careful. Pray don't let Hallett have any suspicion of how your interest has come about; and, above all, he must not think that I have talked to you about his model." "Hold your tongue, tomtit," he exclaimed merrily, "trying to teach a croaking old raven, getting on towards a hundred. You leave it to me. But look here, boy, I'm not blind. This is all in confidence, of course. I can see as far into a mill-stone as most, people. Have Hallett and Miss--Bah, what am I saying?" he muttered, checking himself suddenly. "It's all in confidence, and I shall be as close as an oyster. I've got my part by heart, and you shall see what you shall see." He gave my arm a tight nip, and soon after we reached the door, which I opened with my latchkey, and took him into my rooms, with which the old man seemed much pleased. "Why, you reckless young hypocrite, this is the way you live, is it? Books, eh? And what are these wheels for?" he continued, picking up a couple from the chimney-piece. "The model," I said quietly. "Now, what shall we do? Ask Hallett to come down here, or go up?" "Send up word that you have an old friend with you, and ask if you may bring him up." I took the hint, and Mary came back in a few minutes to say that Mr Hallett would be only too glad to see us. We went up, and I saw at once that Hallett had come down from the attic. Mrs Hallett was asleep, and Linny, looking very pale and thin, but still restful and better, was in an easy-chair with a book. "Ah, Hallett, how do?" said the old gentleman, in his abrupt way. "Your servant, ma'am," he added, with a profound bow. Hallett looked stern and displeased, and his greeting was cold. "My sister, Mr Rowle," he said. "She has been ill." "So I see," he replied. "I hope you are getting better, my dear child. You must take plenty of fresh air. I came to see my young friend, Antony Grace here, and he suggested that as we were under the same roof, I should come and see you. Sorry you ever left us, Mr Hallett." Hallett bowed. "Ah," he continued, taking the chair coldly offered, "lots of changes since. I suppose you know the partnership's dissolved?" "Yes, I had heard so," replied Hallett, glancing uneasily at Linny. "I stick on with the senior branch," the old man continued, as his eyes wandered about the room, for he was evidently at a loss, and I did not know how to help him, so crossed over to sit down by and talk to Linny. But fate favoured us, for in his hurried descent Hallett had brought with him a portion of the mechanism of the model. "Hullo!" exclaimed Mr Jabez sharply; "what have you got there? Have you, too, turned engineer?" "Oh, no," said Hallett, who was annoyed. "I--that is--it is a portion of a little contrivance of mine." "Oho!" exclaimed Mr Jabez, "I've found you out, have I, Master Hallett! Why, you were always making sketches of machinery at the office."