“Ay; but it is, though,” said Sedgett, and forced his way into the room.  “Now, just listen.  I’ve got a young woman I want to pack out o’ the country.  I must do it, while I’m a—­a bachelor boy.  She must go, or we shall be having shindies.  You saw how she caught me out of a cab.  She’s sure to be in the place where she ain’t wanted.  She goes to America.  I’ve got to pay her passage, and mine too.  Here’s the truth:  she thinks I’m off with her.  She knows I’m bankrup’ at home.  So I am.  All the more reason for her thinking me her companion.  I get her away by train to the vessel, and on board, and there I give her the slip.

“Ship’s steaming away by this time t’morrow night.  I’ve paid for her—­and myself too, she thinks.  Leave it to me.  I’ll manage all that neatly enough.  But heer’s the truth:  I’m stumped.  I must, and I will have fifty; I don’t want to utter ne’er a threat.  I want the money, and if you don’t give it, I break off; and you mind this, Mr. Blancove:  you don’t come off s’ easy, if I do break off, mind.  I know all about your relations, and by—!  I’ll let ’em know all about you.  Why, you’re as quiet heer, sir, as if you was miles away, in a wood cottage, and ne’er a dog near.”

So Algernon was thinking; and without a light, save the gas lamp in the square, moreover.

They wrangled for an hour.  When Algernon went forth a second time, he was by fifty pounds poorer.  He consoled himself by thinking that the money had only anticipated its destination as arranged, and it became a partial gratification to him to reflect that he had, at any rate, paid so much of the sum, according to his bond in assuming possession of it.

And what were to be his proceedings?  They were so manifestly in the hands of fate, that he declined to be troubled on that head.

Next morning came the usual short impatient scrawl on thin blue paper from Edward, scarce worthy of a passing thought.  In a postscript, he asked:  “Are there, on your oath, no letters for me?  If there are, send them immediately—­every one, bills as well.  Don’t fail.  I must have them.”

Algernon was at last persuaded to pack up Dahlia’s letters, saying:  “I suppose they can’t do any harm now.”  The expense of the postage afflicted him; but “women always cost a dozen to our one,” he remarked.  On his way to the City, he had to decide whether he would go to the Bank, or take the train leading to Wrexby.  He chose the latter course, until, feeling that he was about to embark in a serious undertaking, he said to himself, “No! duty first;” and postponed the expedition for the day following.

CHAPTER XXXII

Squire Blancove, having business in town, called on his brother at the Bank, asking whether Sir William was at home, with sarcastic emphasis on the title, which smelt to him of commerce.  Sir William invited him to dine and sleep at his house that night.