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Mr John Laazed at the card which a junior clerk had just presented in blank astonishment, an astonishment which became speedily blended with dismay

"Good God, do you see this, Harrison?" he exclaier, hom he had been in consultation "Doland!"

The head clerk glanced at the narrow piece of pasteboard and sighed

"I'm afraid you will find him rather a troublesome client, sir," he remarked

His employer frowned "Of course I shall," he answered testily "There isn't an extra penny to be had out of the estates--you know that, Harrison The last two quarters' allowance which we sent to Africa came out of the timber Why the mischief didn't he stay where he was!"

"What shall I tell the gentlean directed ill-temperedly "I suppose I shall have to see him sooner or later I'll finish these affidavits after lunch, Harrison"

The solicitor composed his features to welcome a client who, however troublesome his affairs had become, still represented a faenerations He was prepared to greet a seedy-looking and degenerate individual, looking older than his years Instead, he found hi his hand to one of the best turned out and handsomest men who had ever crossed the threshold of his not very inviting office For a moment he stared at his visitor, speechless Then certain points of farey eyes--presented themselves This surprise enabled him to infuse a little real heartiness into his welcome

"My dear Sir Everard!" he exclaimed "This is a most unexpected pleasure--most unexpected! Such a pity, too, that we only posted a draft for your allowance a few days ago Dearso--hoell you look!"

Dominey smiled as he accepted an easy chair

"Africa's a wonderful country, Mangan," he ree in his tone which took his listener back to the days of his present client's father

"It--pardon s for you, Sir Everard Let me see, it must be eleven years since we met"

Sir Everard tapped the toes of his carefully polished brown shoes with the end of his walking stick

"I left London," he murmured reminiscently, "in April, nineteen hundred and two Yes, eleven years, Mr Mangan It seeain, as I dare say you can understand"