“I’m off to foreign lands, Arthur—
‘Anywhere, anywhere, out of the world.’”
“Are you serious, Lionel?”
“I was never more so. I have had a few angry words with my brother; and though he’s a good fellow, and is sorry for what he has said, I must go away for a time.”
Arthur looked up inquiringly.
“The fact is, I have been a great fool; I have lost a lot of money lately. I don’t know how it was, but through young Tallant I was induced to visit the Ashford Club. You have not heard, then, of the row at that quiet, but now notorious, institution?”
“No; I never heard of the Ashford before.”
“Why, it was in all the papers, man,—about a fellow cheating, and being put out into the street. My name was mentioned. You shall see the paper. Well, all that naturally annoyed my brother; but, to clinch matters, I was advised to buy a lot of Overton and Baker’s shares, to put myself right, and I have gone all to the bad. Overton and Baker’s have failed, and I not only lose the value of the shares, but there is a liability, and a large one, besides. I suppose you heard of the failure?”
“Yes. I had a large deposit with them at Severntown,” said Arthur.
“You had? By Jove! I’m sorry for that. And you are hit then, too; much, Arthur?”