She longed to speak to him of his future career, of his proposed seat in Parliament, of his office-work; but he gave her no encouragement to speak of such things, and, as he pleaded that he was ill, she left him in quiet on the sofa.
On the next morning he again went to his office, and in the course of the morning a note was brought to him from Undy.

It ran as follows:-- 'MY DEAR TUDOR, 'Is Val to have the shares?
Let me have a line by the bearer.
'Yours ever, 'U.

S.' To this he replied by making an appointment to meet Undy before dinner at his own office.
At the time fixed Undy came, and was shown by the sole remaining messenger into Alaric's private room.

The two shook hands together in their accustomed way.

Undy smiled good-humouredly, as he always did; and Alaric maintained his usual composed and uncommunicative look.
'Well,' said Undy, sitting down, 'how about those shares ?' 'I am glad you have come,' said Alaric, 'because I want to speak to you with some earnestness.' 'I am quite in earnest myself,' said Undy; 'and so, by G--, is Val.