"That will do, James. It is exceedingly unlikely there will be any dispute. In case there should, all you have to remember is that I signed these papers in your presence, and you in mine, and in the presence of one another. I am not sure the last is necessary, but never mind. You need not trouble yourselves to remember all I have said about the matter contained in the papers. You may go now, James." When the servant had retired he said to the clerk: "Thank you, Doughty. You came very luckily. I will ask you to take these documents back to Mrs. Grey's. Usually such matters reach one through an attorney, but I am sorry to say this is not a very ordinary or pleasant transaction. Leave the documents with Mrs. Grey. There is no answer. Then go back to the Bank, and ask Mr. Aldridge to come to me here this afternoon or evening. I shall not be in town to-morrow, and have something to communicate to him. This is the reply to the note you brought from him." When the manager of the Daneford Bank arrived at the Manor House he was shown into the presence of the banker. Grey received him with more of the old grave blandness than he had displayed for a long time. "Aldridge," he said, "I am sorry I have a little bad news. It does not concern the Bank. It is worse than that. I wish to Heaven it did concern the Bank. We can bear reverses in business better than home troubles." He paused, with his eyes fixed on the ground, in deep thought. Aldridge moved his chair closer to Grey's, to show he was giving his best attention. He did not speak. "You can meet a business difficulty face to face; but you shrink from difficulties or unpleasantnesses which bring the names of those you love and honour into the public mouth." It was plain to Aldridge Grey was weighing his words with the nicest care. The manager considered it better to preserve his silence still. "I am going now," pursued Grey, "to place myself upon your honour----" "I am sure you may do that," interrupted Aldridge with respectful emphasis. The respect in the emphasis was not that of employed to employer, but of sympathiser for a fellow-man, an esteemed fellow-man in trouble. Something in Aldridge's tone struck Grey. He stood up, stretched out his hand to Aldridge, took the manager's hand in his, and said impressively: "Aldridge, I am sure of that." "Thank you. Now you may go on. I will not interrupt again." "You know my mother has advertised her house and furniture for sale?" "Yes." "And that she is about to sell her annuity." "So I have heard." "I, as trustee, have just signed the documents. There is talk about this affair in town?" "There is; a good deal. People cannot understand it." "It came as a great shock and surprise to me when I heard it. It was that shock knocked me up in London." "I thought it must have had something to do with it."