CHAPTER II.
COLONEL MULBERRY SELLERS--this was some days before he wrote his letter to Lord Rossmore--was seated in his "library," which was also his "drawing-room" and was also his "picture gallery" and likewise his "work-shop." Sometimes he called it by one of these names, sometimes by another, according to occasion and circumstance.

He was constructing what seemed to be some kind of a frail mechanical toy; and was apparently very much interested in his work.

He was a white-headed man, now, but otherwise he was as young, alert, buoyant, visionary and enterprising as ever.

His loving old wife sat near by, contentedly knitting and thinking, with a cat asleep in her lap.

The room was large, light, and had a comfortable look, in fact a home-like look, though the furniture was of a humble sort and not over abundant, and the knickknacks and things that go to adorn a living-room not plenty and not costly.