"I trust you will forgive me, but can you substantiate what you say ?" "When we say that we are willing to pay your expenses in advance if you will try to find the man, I think we are giving you very good proof of our _bona fides,_" he remarked.

"I am afraid we cannot give you any other, seeing as I have said, that we are both poor men.

If you are prepared to take up our case, we shall be under a life-long gratitude to you, but if you cannot, we must endeavour to find some one else who will undertake the task." "It is impossible for me to decide now whether I can take it up or not," I said, leaning back in my chair and looking at them both as I spoke.

"I must have time to think it over; there are a hundred and one things to be considered before I can give you a direct reply." There was silence for a few moments, and then Kitwater, who had been holding his usual mysterious communications with his friend, said-- "When do you think you will be able to let us have an answer ?" "That depends upon a variety of circumstances," I replied.

"It is a matter difficult to average.