‘Neither, I admit,’ said he.

‘Which change the whole problem,’ I continued.  ’I have to dress for a smartish servant and a Russia leather despatch-box.’  That brought me to a stand.  I came over and looked at the box with a moment’s hesitation.  ‘Yes,’ I resumed.  ’Yes, and for the despatch-box!  It looks moneyed and landed; it means I have a lawyer.  It is an invaluable property.  But I could have wished it to hold less money.  The responsibility is crushing.  Should I not do more wisely to take five hundred pounds, and intrust the remainder with you, Mr. Romaine?’

‘If you are sure you will not want it,’ answered Romaine.

‘I am far from sure of that,’ cried I.  ’In the first place, as a philosopher.  This is the first time I have been at the head of a large sum, and it is conceivable—­who knows himself?—­that I may make it fly.  In the second place, as a fugitive.  Who knows what I may need?  The whole of it may be inadequate.  But I can always write for more.’

‘You do not understand,’ he replied.  ’I break off all communication with you here and now.  You must give me a power of attorney ere you start to-night, and then be done with me trenchantly until better days.’

I believe I offered some objection.

‘Think a little for once of me!’ said Romaine.  ’I must not have seen you before to-night.  To-night we are to have had our only interview, and you are to have given me the power; and to-night I am to have lost sight of you again—­I know not whither, you were upon business, it was none of my affairs to question you!  And this, you are to remark, in the interests of your own safety much more than mine.’

‘I am not even to write to you?’ I said, a little bewildered.

’I believe I am cutting the last strand that connects you with common sense,’ he replied.  ’But that is the plain English of it.  You are not even to write; and if you did, I would not answer.’

‘A letter, however—­’ I began.

‘Listen to me,’ interrupted Romaine.  ’So soon as your cousin reads the paragraph, what will he do?  Put the police upon looking into my correspondence!  So soon as you write to me, in short, you write to Bow Street; and if you will take my advice, you will date that letter from France.’

‘The devil!’ said I, for I began suddenly to see that this might put me out of the way of my business.

‘What is it now?’ says he.

‘There will be more to be done, then, before we can part,’ I answered.

‘I give you the whole night,’ said he.  ’So long as you are off ere daybreak, I am content.’

‘In short, Mr. Romaine,’ said I, ’I have had so much benefit of your advice and services that I am loth to sever the connection, and would even ask a substitute.  I would be obliged for a letter of introduction to one of your own cloth in Edinburgh—­an old man for choice, very experienced, very respectable, and very secret.  Could you favour me with such a letter?’