worth, as he had rather a glut of West Diddlesex shares, and his other concerns wanted feeding with ready money." At the end of our conversation, of which I promised to report the purport to Mrs.Hoggarty, the Director was so kind as to say that he had determined on creating a place of private secretary to the Managing Director, and that I should hold that office with an additional salary of 150_l_.
I had 250_l_.

a year, Miss Smith had 70_l_.

per annum to her fortune.
What had I said should be my line of conduct whenever I could realise 300_l_.

a year?
Gus of course, and all the gents in our office through him, knew of my engagement with Mary Smith.

Her father had been a commander in the navy and a very distinguished officer; and though Mary, as I have said, only brought me a fortune of 70_l_.