CHAPTER XXIII.
MEESON'S ONCE AGAIN.
A month had passed--a month of long, summer days and such happiness as young people who truly love each other can get out of a honeymoon spent under the most favourable circumstances in the sweetest, sunniest spots of the Channel Islands.

And now the curtain draws up for the last time in this history, where it drew up for the first--in the inner office of Meeson's huge establishment.
During the last fortnight certain communications had passed between Mr.
John Short, being duly authorized thereto, and the legal representatives of Messrs.

Addison and Roscoe, with the result that the interests of these gentlemen in the great publishing house had been bought up, and that Eustace Meeson was now the sole owner of the vast concern, which he intended to take under his personal supervision.
Now, accompanied by John Short, whom he had appointed to the post of his solicitor both of his business and his private affairs, and by Augusta, he was engaged in formally taking over the keys from the head manager, who was known throughout the establishment, as No.

1.
"I wish to refer to the authors' agreements of the early part of last year," said Eustace.
No.

1 produced them somewhat sulkily.