"Then—you—are—not dead!"
"Not at present. How long I may live I cannot say, but long enough, I hope, to do an act of justice."
"I am very sorry," stammered Tremlett. "Forgive me, sir."
"I may forgive you, because nothing has happened that cannot be remedied; but I shall never again trust you."
"Won't you take me back into your service, sir?" entreated John Tremlett desperately.
"Never!" said Mr. Baldwin emphatically.
"What will become of me?" ejaculated the miserable young man, shedding maudlin tears. "I am penniless."
"I will not wholly cast you off. I will authorize Mr. Brief to pay you eight hundred dollars during the next year, in monthly installments. I hope you will turn over a new leaf."
"I will, sir; I will indeed," said Tremlett; but Mr. Baldwin, knowing his past hypocrisy, did not put much faith in his penitence.
"I hope so, for your own sake," he said briefly. "You can go now, sir. At the end of a month you can come back, and Mr. Brief will pay you your monthly allowance."