"By the way, Sir William, a matter of no absolute importance, but still of some sentimental value to me, escaped my memory when I was a while ago saying good-bye to you, as I thought, for some months." "And what was that?" "You know there is no hurry about Sir Alexander's will?" "How do you mean?" "Well, nothing need be done about it for months." "What then?" "You will be back in a few months, less than six?" "Let us hope so." "Well, I shall do nothing about the will until you come back. We can then put our heads together and see what is best for Miss Midharst's interest." "I do not fully understand you, Mr. Grey." "What I intend doing is this," Grey explained: "I am not bound to do anything immediately about the will. I know the will is all right. I will pay the small legacies myself and get rid of them, and when you come back you and I shall go over the whole matter. I shall prove the will and administer to the estate, and then you and I will consult as to what had best be done for Miss Midharst's interests with the money." "But what is your object in delay?" "Just a whim." "I hope, Mr. Grey," said the young man, with warm indignation, "you have not for a moment fancied I do not think you fully capable in every way of acting in this matter?" "The shadow of such a suspicion never crossed my mind, I assure you, Sir William. But cannot you understand that the position I occupy of common friend to the two who now compose the house of Midharst would make me desirous of having the advice of the head of the house on important matters, such as the disposal of Sir Alexander's fortune?" The young man looked fixedly, searchingly, at the banker's face for a moment before he answered. When he spoke, he replied with great deliberateness: "There may be a good deal in what you say." "You give me your confidence. You leave me to act as your deputy while you are away. You, in a manner, place yourself in my hands; and you are content with me as the guardian of your cousin's fortune. You rely upon my integrity, upon my honour. I feel the burden I lie under. I should feel less weighed down if you will accept my proposal as a small sign of the esteem I hold you in, and of my simple faith with regard to your cousin's affairs." The banker held out his hand. He had made his speech in his old and best manner. The young man caught his hand swiftly, eagerly. "Grey, I did not hope to find a man like you in you when we met first. I know what stuff you are made of now. We shall be close friends while we live." "Sir William----" "No; Midharst." "Midharst, we shall." They parted. When Grey found himself alone once more, he whispered to the leafless trees: "Now, Mr. Prompter, ring down the drop. That's a very pretty end of the fourth act." CHAPTER III. THE PARTING.