"No, sir," answered the clerk; "I have no great love for Mr. Henry
Dunbar, for I can never cease to look upon him as the cause of my poor
brother Joseph's ruin; but I am ready to do what you wish, Mr. Balderby.
It's business, and I'm ready to do anything in the way of business. I'm
only a sort of machine, sir--a machine that's pretty nearly worn out, I
fancy, now--but as long as I last you can make what use of me you like,
sir. I'm ready to do my duty."

"I am sure of that, Sampson."

"When am I to start for Southampton, sir?"

"Well, I think you'd better go to-morrow, Sampson. You can leave London
by the afternoon train, which starts at four o'clock. You can see to
your work here in the morning, and reach your destination between seven
and eight. I leave everything in your hands. Miss Laura Dunbar will come
up to town to meet her father at the house in Portland Place. The poor
girl is very anxious to see him, as she has not set eyes upon him since
she was a child of two years old. Strange, isn't it, the effect of these
long separations? Laura Dunbar might pass her father in the street
without recognizing him, and yet her affection for him has been
unchanged in all these years."

Mr. Balderby gave the old clerk a pocket-book containing six five-pound
notes.

"You will want plenty of money," he said, "though, of course, Mr. Dunbar
will be well supplied. You will tell him that all will be ready for his
reception here. I really am quite anxious to see the new head of the