“Yes, yes, of course, you must have stock.” said Will carelessly.  “Bring me some tea at once, Mrs. Hopper.”

It had suddenly occurred to him that Allchin might think of trying to borrow the capital wherewith to start this business, and that Mrs. Hopper might advise her brother-in-law to apply to him for the loan.

But this was not at all the idea which had prompted Will’s inquiries.

CHAPTER 18

Another week went by.  Warburton was still living in the same restless way, but did not wear quite so gloomy a countenance; now and then he looked almost cheerful.  That was the case when one morning he received a letter from Sherwood.  Godfrey wrote that, no sooner had he arrived at his relative’s in North Wales than he was seized with a violent liver-attack, which for some days prostrated him; he was now recovering, and better news still, had succeeded in borrowing a couple of hundred pounds.  Half of this sum he sent to Warburton; the other half he begged to be allowed to retain, as he had what might prove a very fruitful idea for the use of the money —­details presently.  To this letter Will immediately replied at some length.  The cheque he paid into his account, which thus reached a total of more than six hundred pounds.

A few days later, after breakfast as usual, he let his servant clear the table, then said with a peculiar smile.

“I want to have a little talk with you, Mrs. Hopper.  Please sit down.”

To seat herself in her master’s presence went against all Mrs. Hopper’s ideas of propriety.  Seeing her hesitate, Will pointed steadily to a chair, and the good woman, much flurried, placed herself on the edge of it.

“You have noticed,” Warburton resumed, “that I haven’t been quite myself lately.  There was a good reason for it.  I’ve had a misfortune in business; all my plans are changed; I shall have to begin quite a new life—­a different life altogether from that I have led till now.”

Mrs. Hopper seemed to have a sudden pain in the side.  She groaned under her breath, staring at the speaker pitifully.

“There’s no need to talk about it, you know,” Will went on with a friendly nod.  “I tell you, because I’m thinking of going into a business in which your brother-in-law could help me, if he cares to.”

He paused.  Mrs. Hopper kept her wide eyes on him.

“Allchin’ll be very glad to hear of that, sir.  What am I saying?  Of course I don’t mean he’ll be glad you’ve had misfortune, sir, and I’m that sorry to hear it, I can’t tell you.  But it does just happen as he’s out of work, through that nasty temper of his.  Not,” she corrected herself hastily, “as I ought to call him nasty-tempered.  With a good employer, I’m sure he’d never get into no trouble at all.”

“Does he still wish to get back into the grocery business?”

“He’d be only too glad, sir, But, of course, any place as you offered him—­”