The Blotting Book

rtner's flat, and finding that he was not there, and that no word of any kind had been received from him, went, as he felt himself now

to come to Mr. Taynton's house at nine thirty that night. It had been ascertained too, by-Mr. Taynton hesitated a moment-by Mr. Morris Assheton in London, that he had left his flat in St

ime or run down the criminal. He seemed quite incapable of running down anything, and Mr. Taynton had to repeat everything he said in order to be sure that Mr. Figgis got his notes, which he made in a la

haps getting out at Falmer and walking over the downs to Brighton. But Thursday was the evening on whic

appeared to be trying

nderstorm on Thu

I ever remember,"

ory," said this incomp

bled him to ask a questi

by Lewes and not by

Had he intended to travel by Hayward's Heath," said Mr. Taynton rather laboriously, as

k over this, which he

's Heath line does not p

r toward him and kindly made a r

et went by the Lewes

after a while. Then he sighed heavily, and changed

n ascertained that the missing individual had left

atter. In fact, when Mr. Mills was found not to have returned on Thursday evening, he w

at his notes, altered a palpably mistak

hall be gone

*

to get cleared off everything that would otherwise interrupt the well-earned repose and security from business affairs which was to him the proper atmosphere of the seventh, or as he called it, the first day. This interview with the accredited representative of the law also had removed a cert

shrugged sarcastic shoulders and said, "probably another blackmailing errand has detained him." For, indeed, Mills had painted himself in very ugly colours in his last interview with him; that horrid hint of blackmail, which still, so to speak, held good, had cast a ne

race his plain bachelor table. An ice-pudding, for instance, was outside the orbit, so he feared of his plain though excellent cook, and two little dishes of chocolates and sweets, since he was at the confectioner's, would be appropriate to th

*

eppelwhite table in the hall. There had been a continued buying of copper shares, and the fe

ith those active markets it was still easily possible though it was Saturday, to effect his sale, since there was sure to be long continued business in the Street and he had but to be able to exercise his option at that price, to be quit of that dreadful incubus of anxie

ad increased Morris's fortune since he had charge of it by ￡10,000. And what a lesson, too, he had had, so gently and painlessly taught him! No one knew better than he how grievously wrong he had got, in gambling with trust money. Yet now it had come right: he had repaired the original wrong; on Monday he would reinvest this capital in those holdings which he had sold, and Morris's ￡40,000 (so largely the result of careful and judicious investment) would certainly stand the scrutiny of any who could possibly have any cause to examine his ledgers. Indeed there would be nothing to see. Two years ago Mr. Morris Assheton's fortune wa

ay debentures and other gilt-edged securities. In a few days, any scrutiny might be made of the securities lodged at the County Bank, and assuredly among them would be found those debentures, those gilt-edged securities exactly a

hat the man who had gambled with his client's money was no longer himself; it was a perfectly different person who had done that. It was a different man, too, who, so few days ago had connived at and applauded the sorry trick which Mills had tried to play on Morris, when (so futilely, it is true)

mble on which he had started as soon as lunch was over, that a cloud filmy and thin at first began to come across the face of the sun. Once and again those genial beams dispersed it, but soon it seemed as if the vapours were getting the upper hand. A thought, in fact, had crossed

turned. But the same answer as before was given him, and saying that he had need of a document that Mills had taken home with him three d

one face and see another is always (though ever so slightly) upset

er, which is concerned with my business," he sa

weighed t

m the rooms," he said, "till

what?" asked

Mills's disappearance. But in ten minutes

ything." said the lawyer.

ng-room. He carried in his hand two or three letters, and a few

sir," he said to

ho was looking rather fixedly at w

ay be among th

addressed to the missing man, one bearing his name only, some

ng these?"

on turned

as a large, yes, a large bl

the flat, sir," sa

ing," said

slowly to str

ndon with him," he said. "B

o looked in the waste-pape

it had got dark; this "document" whatever it was, appeared to trouble him. Th

to the sitting-room on the lawyer's departure, and

e office I found Mr. Mills's bag. It had arrived on Thursday evening

d get out at Falme

long time to

that he put his luggage into the train in Lond

o it. They patiently pieced this together, but found nothing of value. The other letters referred only to his engagements in London, none of which were later than Thursday morning.

o correspond?" asked Fig

N

present we will k

*

cheerful serenity was touched with a sort of sympathetic boisterousness, at the huge spirits of the young couple and it was to be recorded that after dinner they played musical chairs and blind-man's buff, with infinite laughter. Never was an elderly solicitor so spontaneously gay; indeed before long it was he who reinfected the others with merriment. Bu

t concession, his mother had consented to be carried, on the promise of his going slow, had already come for them. Then down at the seaward end of the street he heard street-cries, as if som

h them, for she was stop

two ladies had already

tanding on the pav

g from the corner of the street just above them, and as he ran he shouted out the new

found, and ran back into the hall of his house, Morris with him, to beneath the electric light that burned there. The

ether, and then looked at each ot