Pavo" to Sir Joshua Tredgold, at some loss, had been satisfactorily carried out, which enabled me to invest in all things needful with a cheerful heart.

Never before had I been provided with such an outfit as that which preceded us to the ship.
At length the day of departure came.

We stood on the platform at Paddington waiting for the Dartmouth train to start, for in those days the African mail sailed from that port.

A minute or two before the train left, as we were preparing to enter our carriage I caught sight of a face that I seemed to recognise, the owner of which was evidently searching for someone in the crowd.

It was that of Briggs, Sir Alexander's clerk, whom I had met in the sale-room.
"Mr.Briggs," I said as he passed me, "are you looking for Mr.Somers?
If so, he is in here." The clerk jumped into the compartment and handed a letter to Mr.Somers.
Then he emerged again and waited.