H. B. Marriott Watson

“ The lady you are to meet is Miss Gorton; the train arrives at 10 o'clock to-night at Waterloo. She will be expecting to be met. When you meet her,” he said slowly, “you will drive with her to No. 17, The Bank, N.W.”
I started. “The Bank!” I cried in amazement, well knowing, as does every Londoner, what reputation that infamous place had won.
“Why, sir, I speak clearly,” said Alabaster equably, but fixing me with his eyes. “An admirable woman, Miss Gray, will be awaiting her.” ”

“ You will perceive that I was carrying out my instructions to the letter; yet with each word, and with every moment, I distrusted Alabaster and regretted my mission the more. At the Bank, as that melancholy and shameless road was called, I stopped the cab and descended. A woman answered to a ring at the wicket-gate—a woman of middle age, handsome of a sort, and showily dressed in a gown of some pretensions. ”

“ I replied, shrugging my shoulders.
“Pooh! many gentlemen are down on their luck at times,” he said, lighting a cigar, and offering me his case.
I shook my head: I had smoked no tobacco for weeks, and the sight of that sweet-smelling cigar unmanned me. He pressed it upon me, and I lighted it with tremulous fingers. Of a sudden I seemed to breathe a new atmosphere, and I was back among my old associations, in my chambers, my body ripe with food and wine, and the warmth of my own hearth.
“It is good,” observed Mr. Alabaster, regarding me ”

“ Well, Mr.—Glazebrook, let us say—my firm is the agent for Sir Henry Gorton's estates. It is a large matter, entailing a vast deal of trouble and time, and we make a good thing out of it. Sir Henry has been in India, and I regret to say that we have serious news of him. He is dangerously ill in Paris. ”

“ We went along the Strand, turned up a side street, and entered a wine-house, sparkling with the light from many gas-jets. A fire burned in a corner of the large room, and small marble tables were scattered about, occupied by groups in conversation. My companion ordered some sandwiches and whisky, and watched me as I ate. I strove to conceal the voracity with which the food was welcomed, but his cool grey eyes were set upon me, and seemed to read me through.
“You are a gentleman?” ”

“ I nodded. “I have instructions from Mr. Alabaster to——”
“All right,” she interrupted briskly. “Let the cabman fetch in the things. Come in, miss.”
I waited. My task was over, yet I hesitated to leave. The thought of that quarter into which I had brought so young and innocent a girl stirred me into a feeling of repentance. As Miss Gorton entered the gate, the woman turned to me.
“All right. You're not wanted. You can go,” she said, with an unpleasant smile.
Something moved me to reply on the spur of the moment. “You are not the judge of that,” I said shortly. ”

“ I said, moistening my dry lips.
“'Truth' is an inadequate word,” interrupted Bannister, “I have known Sir Henry Gorton for many years, and have had the privilege of Miss Gorton's acquaintance for several. I think you might trust me to act for the best.”
The girl looked at me, her lip quivering fitfully, “What am I to do?” she cried, imploring me. “I don't .... oh, what would Mr. Alabaster advise?”
“What does this gentleman propose?” ”

“ He took a five-pound note from his pocket-book. “These are necessary expenses, sir. What I pay you is another matter. I want your services for a few days, and I am willing to pay a sovereign a day. Is it a bargain?” ”