"You can go." With pleasing haste the clerk put together the voluminous folios of blue paper from which he had been reading, and quickly made his exit, while Sir Francis, still standing, put on his glasses and unfolded the one sheet of note-paper on which Helmsley's communication was written.
Glancing it up and down, he turned it over and over--then addressed himself to the attentively waiting Benson.
"So Mr.Helmsley has started on his trip alone ?" "Yes, Sir Francis.

Quite alone." "Did he say where he was going ?" "He booked for Southhampton, sir." "Oh!" "And," proceeded Benson, "he only took one portmanteau." "Oh!" again ejaculated the lawyer.

And, stroking his bearded chin, he thought awhile.
"Are you going to stay at Carlton House Terrace till he comes back ?" "I have a month's holiday, sir.

Then I return to my place.

The same order applies to all the servants, sir." "I see! Well!" And then there came a pause.
"I suppose," said Sir Francis, after some minutes' reflection, "I suppose you know that during Mr.Helmsley's absence you are to apply to me for wages and household expenses--that, in fact, your master has placed me in charge of all his affairs ?" "So I have understood, sir," replied Benson, deferentially.