'Yours ever,
'U. S.'
To this he replied by making an appointment to meet Undy before dinner at his own office.
At the time fixed Undy came, and was shown by the sole remaining messenger into Alaric's private room. The two shook hands together in their accustomed way. Undy smiled good-humouredly, as he always did; and Alaric maintained his usual composed and uncommunicative look.
'Well,' said Undy, sitting down, 'how about those shares?'
'I am glad you have come,' said Alaric, 'because I want to speak to you with some earnestness.'
'I am quite in earnest myself,' said Undy; 'and so, by G—, is Val. I never saw a fellow more in earnest—nor yet apparently more hard up. I hope you have the shares ready, or else a cheque for the amount.'
'Look here, Undy; if my doing this were the only means of saving both you and me from rotting in gaol, by the Creator that made me I would not do it!'
'I don't know that it will have much effect upon me, one way or the other,' said Undy, coolly; 'but it seems to me to be the only way that can save yourself from some such fate. Shall I tell you what the clauses are of this new bill about trust property?'
'I know the clauses well enough; I know my own position; and I know yours also.'