Williams is a quiet young man who only desires to be left alone to earn his living respectably at the Bar, and see there if he cannot redress the balance in the favour of women.

But there is something you _could_ do for me, and it is for that I came to see you to-day--by the bye, we have both let our tea grow cold, but _for goodness' sake_ don't order any more on my account, or else your parlour-maid will be coming in and out and will see that I've been crying and you look flushed.

What I wanted to ask was this--it's really very simple--_If Mr.Vavasour Williams, aged twenty-four, late in South Africa, once your pupil in architecture_ or scene painting or whatever it was--_gives you as a reference to character, you are to say the best you can of him_.

And, by the bye, he will be calling to see you very shortly and you could lend further verisimilitude to your story by renewing acquaintance with him.

You will find him very much improved.