If I weren't a pretty fair sailor--well, as it is, my dear," he interrupted himself with a laugh, "I show you often enough what grabs I make for support." He gave a faint gasp, half amusement, half anguish, then abruptly relieved himself by a question.

"To whom in point of fact does the place belong ?" "I'm awfully ashamed, but I'm afraid I don't know.

That just came up here," the girl went on, "for Mr.Van." Mr.Longdon seemed to think an instant.

"Oh it came up, did it?
And Mr.
Van couldn't tell ?" "He has quite forgotten--though he has been here before.

Of course it may have been with other people," she added in extenuation.