CHAPTER III.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 43, 25 October 1900, Page 24

CHAPTER 111.

Gilbert VVeston sat in his office beside the comfortable fire, a letter in his hand, and a roll of type- written copy before him. 'In very reduced circumstances, and is now suffering from a severe illness,' he read from the note he held. A sardonic wnile lip up his faoe. 'Ah t my old friend Vernaker,' he exclaimed loudly. • the very thing.' He touched a bell and one of the clerks entered. ' Bring me in one of the etamped forms of publishing agreement,' he said, 1 and — one moment — let the sergeant get me a cab.' A minute later and the clerk returned with the document, which Mr. Weston proceeded to fill in according to his pleasure. ' H'm,' he said reflectively, ' better put in the title after — no one can notice the insertion. Then he tidied up hia desk, in the methodical manner common to business men, and was ready for departure. First of all, however, he locked up the typewritten manuscript, which, strangely enough was inscribed ' The Uncreated Universe : by Thibault Vernaker,' and having put the agreement in his pocket, he turned out the gas and went into the general office. • I shall not be back to-night, Carter,' he said. ' Good-night.' 4 Good-night, sir,' replied the clerk, and as the door closed behind his master, he made a few anathematising additions to the salutation, from which it would appear as if Gilbert Weston was not a favorite with his staff. However, that gentleman was soon in a hansom, totally oblivioui of his unpopularity. ' Where to, air 1 ' shouted the cabman.

' 92, Seton street, off Staunton street. 1 Right ! ' and with a bang the door closed, and the cab rattled off at a good pace. On they went through fashionable London, up glaringly-lighted thoroughfares, down gloomy, dismal streets, across deserted-looking squares, past wretched slums and illuminated palaces, not pausing until Seton street was reached. ' What a hole,' thought Weston, as he alighted and told the cabman to wait. An ancient female with weak vision at last replied to his repeated knocks. 1 Yes, she supposed Mrs. Vernaker was in. Wasn't likely she'd be out with her husband ill in bed, was it I ' Mr. Weston agreed it was a little improbable, and the female, having as she thought defeated him in argument, let bim iv the hall, and proceeded upstairs to inquire about Mrs. Vernaker. • Hey, mister,' came a voice down the stairs, ' come up, will yen' Weston lost no time in complying with this elegantly-expressed request, and was quickly uthered into the Vtrnaker's little sitting room. He found the object of his journey there, who greeted him courteously, and seemed to be enquiring curiously with her eyes a* to his errand. • You will, I am sure, forgive me troubling you, when I tell you my reason for coming,' said Weston, smiling deferentially at his vix-a-vix,' but the fact is, I represent the publishing firm to whom your husband offered a work of his. In a moment Mrs. Vernaker's eyes brightened with intelligence and delight. 1 And are you accepting it ?' she cried excitedly. Weston was somewhat astonished at the way she seemed to take the bait, but continued : ' Yes, not only are we willing to take it, but also to pay £500 down for it instantly, here in thia room.' 'Oh I how good God is,' cried Mrs. Vernaker, delightedly. ' This news will make my dear husband well again.' ' Yes, I regretted to hear of his illness,' went on Weston, • your landlady downstairs informed me he was ill in bed, so I thought it best to ask for you. Now this is all I require. First, of course, your husband must sign an agreement for the sale of hia book ; secondly, he must of necessity be perfectly clear-headed, as the agreement would perhaps not be binding if he were delirious. You will, no doubt, kindly witness his signature, and in exchange for the agreement I am prepared to hand you a cheque for £.">oo.' 1 Wcn't you come in and see him V said Mrs. Vernaker, slightly bewildered by all these instructions. ' No, no, thank you,' muttered Weston, hurriedly, ' I've a great objection to sick rooms. I'm very subject to catch any disease, whether contagious or no.' Mrs. Vernaker felt rather amused at the idea of this person catching brain fever, but did not press the point. 'He is no longer delirious,' sfce said, 'only very weak, but this news will, I am sure, do him more good than all the doctor's tonics.' ' By the bye,' remarked Weston, • you will notice that the title of the book has been omitted, but that can be filled in after, as it must be in the fame writing as the rest of the agreement. 1 ' Oh, that will be alright,' ehe said sweetly, ' and may I tell him that you like the novel /' ' Bay that it is one of the most remarkable books we have read for some time, and that it will very likely make him famous,' replied Weston. ' Whioh is perfectly true,' he said to himself when she had quitted the room. Five minutes later she returned. ' Oh, he was so delighted,' she said. ' Poor dear, he was almost too weak to sign, but there is the agreement, and I made the landlady witness it also, to make sure of there being 1 no mistake.' 'Thank you,' he said. 'that is quite in order. There is £500. Good evening,' and a second later the rickety hall door slammed' behind his retreating figure. ' Well, I'm hanged,' he cried to himself, as he clambered into the cab, ' I didn't expect such an easy business as this. They played right into my hands. Vernaker must have written another book, and they thought I was alluding to that. Hah, hah, my friend, who is the last to laugh now >.' and he chuckled grimly to himself. * Meanwhile Constance Vernaker stood for a moment in the centre of the room gazing at the cheque. ' Waldron, Weston and Co.' How strange, she thought the book had been sent to Maraton and Ward— she must have been mistaken. Why did ehe not feel happy at thia great stroke of fortune ? It seemed to her indeed as if some great misfortune had occurred, a kind of black cloud of disaster hovered over her mind. At last she roused herself. 'How Billy I am,' she exclaimed. ' I ought to be pleased, and yet '