“I’m going away.”

“Going away? Where?”

“Back to the city first. I have an urgent summons from my friends there.”

“How soon do you go?”

“That depends upon you.”

“Upon me? I don’t understand!” said Philip, puzzled.

“You ought to. As soon as you have paid me what you owe me. I need it to enable me to settle up at the hotel.”

Philip turned pale. It was just what he had worried over many a time—this terrible debt, which he felt utterly unable to liquidate.

“How much is it?” he asked, nervously.

“How much? Really, I haven’t reckoned it up yet; but I will,” said Congreve, carelessly.