Drake laughed, and protested that nothing was further from his intention.  Certain letters, however, which Fielding wrote to Mrs. Willoughby during this period proved that he did join him, and more than once.  The two men returned to London half-way through September.

On the journey from Dover to Charing Cross Drake asked whether Mrs. Willoughby was in town.  He was informed that at the moment she was visiting in Scotland, but she was expected to pass through London at the end of a fortnight.  Drake wrote a note to her address asking her to spare him a few moments when she came south, and receiving a cordial assent with the statement of the most favourable hour, walked across one evening to Knightsbridge.  Mrs. Willoughby remarked a certain constraint in his manner, and awaited tentacle questions concerning Sidney Mallinson and Clarice.  She said:  ‘You look well.  You have enjoyed your holiday.’

‘I had an amusing companion.’

‘You have given him some spark of your activity,’ and the sentence was pitched to convey thanks.

‘Then you have seen him?’ Drake’s embarrassment became more pronounced.  He paused for a second and then rose and walked across the room.  ‘You know, I suppose,’ he resumed, ’that I am going out to Matanga in a month.’

‘I heard something of that from Mr. Fielding,’ she said gently.

‘Yes,’ he said, with a change in his voice to brisk cheerfulness.  ’It seemed to me that I ought to go.  Our interests there are rather large now.  I consulted my fellow-directors, and they agreed with me.’

The sudden disappearance of the constraint which had marked him surprised Mrs. Willoughby.  ‘But can you leave London?’ she asked.

‘Oh yes; I have made arrangements for that,’ he replied.  ’I have got Burl to look after things here.’

‘Mr. Burl?’

‘Yes; it’s rather funny,’ said Drake, with a laugh.  ’He came to ask me whether I was disposed to take up politics.  There was a constituency in Yorkshire he could arrange for me to stand for—­Bentbridge.  Do you know it?’

’I have been there.  Mr. Le Mesurier has a brother just outside the town.  It was there, I believe, that he became acquainted with Mr. Burl.’

’So I gathered.  Well, I wanted the question left open for a bit.  Then Burl made another proposal.  He said they wanted a paper in the district.  There were some people ready to back the idea, but they didn’t have quite enough capital.  Burl wanted me to provide the rest.  He didn’t get it, but he nearly did, and it struck me that he was just the man I wanted.  So after he had had his say, I had mine, and he has thrown up politics and joined me.’  Drake ended his story with a laugh, and added, ’I think I am lucky to have got hold of him.’

‘Then you don’t mean to go away for good?’ exclaimed Mrs. Willoughby.

’Oh dear no!  What on earth made you think that?  But I will be away a year, I think,—­and—­and, that’s just the point.’  His embarrassment returned as suddenly as it had left him.