Only to Godfrey Sherwood had he communicated his project.

"What difference is there," he wrote, "between selling sugar from an office in Whitechapel, and selling it from behind a counter in Fulham Road ?" And Sherwood--who was still reposing in North Wales--wrote a long, affectionate, admiring reply.

"You are splendid! What energy! What courage! I could almost say that I don't regret my criminal recklessness, seeing that it has given the occasion for such a magnificent display of character." He added, "Of course it will be only for a short time.

Even if the plans I am now working out--details shortly--come to nothing (a very unlikely thing), I am sure to recover my ten thousand pounds in a year or so."-- "Of course," he wrote in a postscript, "I breathe no word of it to any mortal." This letter--so are we made--did Warburton good.

It strengthened him in carrying through the deception of his relatives and of Mr.Turnbull, for he saw himself as _splendide mendax_.