Godfrey having telegraphed that he must remain in town, Warburton soon joined him.

His partner was more cheerful and sanguine than ever; he had cleared off numberless odds and ends of business; there remained little to be done before the day, a week hence, appointed for the signature of the new deed, for which purpose Applegarth would come to London.

Mr.Turnbull, acting with his wonted caution, had at length concluded the sale of Mrs.Warburton's property, and on the day after his return, Will received from St.Neots a letter containing a cheque for four thousand pounds! All his own available capital was already in the hands of Sherwood; a sum not much greater in amount than that invested by his mother and sister.

Sherwood, for his part, put in sixteen thousand, with regrets that it was all he had at command just now; before long, he might see his way greatly to increase their capital, but they had enough for moderate enterprise in the meanwhile.
Not half an hour after the post which brought him the cheque, Warburton was surprised by a visit from his friend.
"I thought you wouldn't have left home yet," said Godfrey, with a nervous laugh.

"I had a letter from Applegarth last night, which I wanted you to see at once." He handed it, and Will, glancing over the sheet, found only an unimportant discussion of a small detail.
"Well, that's all right," he said, "but I don't see that it need have brought you from Wimbledon to Chelsea before nine o'clock in the morning.