The Red Rat's Daughter

jord and its owner had taken his last look at the little village of Merok. During

whose accomplishments were as notorious as his tastes were varied. A fortnight in Monte Carlo and a week in Paris had succeeded the Nile trip; and now the first week in March found him, free of engagements, ensconced in the luxurious smoking-room of the Monolith Club in Pall Mall, an enormous cigar between his teeth, and a feeling of regret in his heart that he had been persuaded to leave the warmth and sunshine of the favoured South for what he was now enduring. The morning had been fairly bright, but the afternoon was

welcome you would receive. In Cannes the sun has been shining on the Boulevard de la Croisette all day. Here it is all dar

hand was placed upon his shoulder, and, turning ro

ding out his hand. "I give you my word, old fellow, you couldn't have come

er: I always turn up at opportune moments, like the kind

your c

ingly," said Jimmy; "I'm tired of it my

ow," Browne replied.

, and I've fairly had to eat my way here. But why should the weather irritate you? If you're idiot enough to come back from Cairo to

would you go and

from me that the Bard was not very far out when he

nothing to do, and I've less. What do you say to going off somewhere? What's you

" said Jimmy. "Provided we go by sea, I am

outside, he added: "Fog, Rain, Sleet, an

I should advise you to bring something warm with you, for we are certain to find it cold going down Channel and crossing the Bay at this time of the

and putting on his hat as he spoke, "my way is alway

t the sort of weather to ride in ha

Place, they proceeded in the direction of Piccadilly. The fog was thicker there than elsewh

how you," said Foote, as they passed over the cr

cigarette or something more atroc

upying a prominent position in the centre was a large water-colour, and as Browne glanced at it his heart gave a leap in his breast. It was a view of Merok taken from th

t in silence for more than a minute. "If I had the money-- But I say, old chap, wh

his friend repli

ad seen the artist's name, and that that name was the

he said. "I should like to go into the sh

aid Jimmy. "I'

a shop he often visited, and in consequence he was well known to the assistants. When he made

and turned it upon the picture. "The young lady who painted it is fast making a name for herself. So far this is th

ne. "It is an exceedingly pretty sk

to show you one or two others while you are here? We h

ut whether you could tell me the address of the young lady

ainted. Perhaps you know that she is in London at the presen

that case you might let me

ed. "If you will excuse me for a mome

London with hansoms and 'buses rolling by outside. In spirit he was on the steep side of a Norwegian mountain, surrounded by fog and rain, endeavouring to discover from what direction a certain cry for help proceeded. Then the fog rolled away, and, looking u

HERINE P

n Park Ro

it will give me the greatest pleasure to write to the young lady, and to tel

, with the most impressive earnestness. "I must make it a conditio

ill be sure not to do so," he answered humbly. "I thought perhaps, having purchased an example of

her?" inquired Browne. "Do yo

, "I do not fancy she is very well off. She was in

er to obtain the mere necessaries of life. He, however, thanked the man for his courtesy, and bidding him s

entleman in an injured tone, as they proceeded up the str

sn't suit you. You are the jolliest little fellow in the world when

my snappishly. "The night is but young, and we're n

n usual, but he slowed down on being remonstrated w

h is the matter with you to-night? Ten minutes ago you were as glum as they make 'em; nothing suited you. Then you went

ies, and do it in a proper style. I'll have the critics there, and all the swells who buy; and if they don't do as I want, and declare it to be the very finest show of the year, I'll never buy one of their works aga

t in Regent Street on a foggy afternoon in March, I tell you flatly I'm going home. I am not a millionaire, and my character won't stand the strain. What's the mat

? A fog did me a very good turn once, and now I'm hanged if another isn't going to do it again. You're a dear little chap, Jimmy, and I wouldn't wish for a better companion. But there's no use shutting your eyes to one fact, and that is you

said you had nothing to do, and that you were going to employ yourself entertaining me? Jo

he sprang in. "Far better than that." Then, looking up through the trap in the roof at the dri

fore you do go, what about to-morrow? What train shall we catch? And h

no trains, there is no skipper, and most certainly there is no yacht. I

ng Mr. Foote standing before the port

know which to think. He's quite unnerved me. I think I'll go in here and try a glass of dry sherry just to pull myself together

ok his head solemnly. "I don't like the look of things at all," he said. "I said a lunatic asylum just now; I should have mentioned a worse place-'St.