“Any time,” said the boarding-master, shrugging his shoulders.  “The old gentleman might go out to-night, or again ’e might live on for a week or more.  ’E was so weak ’e couldn’t ’ardly sign ’is name.”

“I ’ope ’e ’as signed it all right,” said Mr. Kybird, starting.

“Safe as ’ouses,” said his friend.

“Well, why not wait till Teddy ’as got the money?” suggested Mrs. Kybird, with a knowing shake of her head.

“Becos,” said Mr. Smith, in a grating voice, “be-cos for one thing ’e’d be a rich man then and could ’ave ’is pick.  Teddy Silk on a pound or thereabouts a week and Teddy Silk with ten thousand pounds ’ud be two different people.  Besides that ’e’d think she was marrying ’im for ’is money.”

“If ’e thought that,” said Mrs. Kybird, firmly, “I’d never forgive ’im.”

“My advice to you,” said Nathan Smith, shaking his forefinger impressively, “is to get ’em married on the quiet and as soon as possible.  Once they’re tied up Teddy can’t ’elp ’imself.”

“Why on the quiet?” demanded Mr. Kybird, sharply.

The boarding-master uttered an impatient exclamation.  “Becos if Mr. Swann got to ’ear of it he’d guess I’d been blabbing, for one thing,” he said, sharply, “and for another, ’e left it to ’im partly to make up for ’is disappointment—­he’d been disappointed ’imself in ’is younger days, so ’e told me.”

“Suppose ’e managed to get enough strength to alter ’is will?”

Mr. Kybird shivered.  “It takes time to get married, though,” he objected.

“Yes,” said Mr. Smith, ironically, “it does.  Get round young Teddy, and then put the banns up.  Take your time about it, and be sure and let Mr. Swann know.  D’ye think ’e wouldn’t understand wot it meant, and spoil it, to say nothing of Teddy seeing through it?

“Well, wot’s to be done, then?” inquired the staring Mr. Kybird.

“Send ’em up to London and ’ave ’em married by special license,” said Mr. Smith, speaking rapidly—­“to-morrow, if possible; if not, the day after.  Go and pitch a tale to Teddy to-night, and make ’im understand it’s to be done on the strict q.t.”

“Special licenses cost money,” said Mr. Kybird.  “I ’ave ’eard it’s a matter o’ thirty pounds or thereabouts.”

Mr. Nathan Smith rose, and his eyes were almost expressive.  He nodded good-night to the ladies and crossed to the door.  Mrs. Kybird suddenly seized him by the coat and held him.

[Illustration:  “Mrs. Kybird suddenly seized him by the coat.”]

“Don’t be in a ’urry, Nat,” she pleaded.  “We ain’t all as clever as you are.”

“Talk about looking a gift-’orse in the mouth—­” began the indignant Mr. Smith.

“Sit down,” urged Mr. Kybird.  “You can’t expect us to be as quick in seeing things as wot you are.”

He pushed his partly mollified friend into his chair again, and taking a seat next him began to view the affair with enthusiasm. “’Melia shall turn young Nugent off to-night,” he said, firmly.