"Enjoy yourself! God bless you, dearest!"
Another kiss, and our man of genius departed for his studio. Arrived there, he began to consider whether it were not too late to do anything that day. It was near one o'clock; at two, Frank was to call upon him. They were going to a morning conceit.
"It is decidedly useless beginning anything to-day. I'll just try over some of those songs till Frank calls."
He sat down to the piano. Having sung for a quarter of an hour, he opened a French novel, and was deep in that when his fidus Achates appeared.
"Frank," said Cecil, as they strolled out together; "I am going to ask you a question which generally disturbs friendship, but which won't alter ours, because you'll answer it candidly."
"Cis, I know what that exordium means. Whenever a man begins in that solemn circumlocutory manner he can have but one object—money."
Cecil laughed, as he replied,—
"You have hit it, by George!"
"Of course, I have. Do you think I have borrowed so much money without learning every symptom?"
"Well, then, Frank, without disguise, I want to borrow a few pounds; old Vyner has not relented, and his wife has not been lately with any little contribution: but she can't be long, it has been due some weeks."