was written. Torpenhow took it and departed without a word, while Dick
walked round and round the spellbound captive, giving him such advice
as he conceived best for the welfare of his soul. When Torpenhow
returned with a gigantic portfolio, he heard Dick say, almost soothingly,
'Now, I hope this will be a lesson to you; and if you worry me when I
have settled down to work with any nonsense about actions for assault,
believe me, I'll catch you and manhandle you, and you'll die. You haven't
very long to live, anyhow. Go! Imshi, Vootsak,--get out!' The man
departed, staggering and dazed. Dick drew a long breath: 'Phew! what a
lawless lot these people are! The first thing a poor orphan meets is gang
robbery, organised burglary! Think of the hideous blackness of that
man's mind! Are my sketches all right, Torp?'

'Yes; one hundred and forty-seven of them. Well, I must say, Dick, you've
begun well.'

'He was interfering with me. It only meant a few pounds to him, but it
was everything to me. I don't think he'll bring an action. I gave him some
medical advice gratis about the state of his body. It was cheap at the little
flurry it cost him. Now, let's look at my things.'

Two minutes later Dick had thrown himself down on the floor and was
deep in the portfolio, chuckling lovingly as he turned the drawings over
and thought of the price at which they had been bought.

The afternoon was well advanced when Torpenhow came to the door and
saw Dick dancing a wild saraband under the skylight.

'I builded better than I knew, Torp,' he said, without stopping the dance.