And"-- another sigh--"I suppose it IS business for my uncle, who has, it seems, bought into this Trust on these possible contingencies, has, perhaps, been asking questions of Mr.Leyton.But I don't want you to think that I approve of them, or advise your answering them.

But you are not listening." "I had forgotten something," said Rushbrook, with an odd preoccupation.
"Excuse me a moment--I will return at once." He left the room quite as abstractedly, and when he reached the passage, he apparently could not remember what he had forgotten, as he walked deliberately to the end window, where, with his arms folded behind his back, he remained looking out into the street.

A passer-by, glancing up, might have said he had seen the pale, stern ghost of Mr.Rushbrook, framed like a stony portrait in the window.

But he presently turned away, and re-entered the room, going up to Grace, who was still sitting by the fire, in his usual strong and direct fashion.
"Well! Now let me see what you want.

I think this would do." He took a seat at his open desk, and rapidly wrote a few lines.
"There," he continued, "when you write to your uncle, inclose that." Grace took it, and read:-- DEAR MISS NEVIL,--Pray assure your uncle from me that I am quite ready to guarantee, in any form that he may require, the undertaking represented to him by Mr.John Somers.