He turned to the shipping list and looked to see what steamers sailed soon. He found two that were to sail on the morrow.
“That will do,” he said, and laid aside his paper, with an expression of resolution on his face.
Then he arose, locked his safe, donned his coat and hat, and made his way directly to Mr. Dalton’s aristocratic mansion on ——th street.
He inquired for Editha of the servant who answered his ring, and was immediately shown into the drawing-room, where she sat alone. Her face lighted and flushed with pleasure as she arose to greet him.
“Earle, you are very, very much of a stranger,” she said, half reproachfully.
“I have been very, very busy,” he answered, smiling.
“I know—I read of your great success, and the papers speak very creditably of the rising young lawyer, and the friends of that young lawyer would be glad to see more of him. Just think, you have only called once since our return from Newport, and then I had other callers, and only saw you for a few moments, while I have only met you once or twice since on the street.”
“It would be very pleasant to come oftener, but you know duty before pleasure and I fear my friends, what few I have, will see even less of me in the future.”
“How so?”
“I have business that calls me abroad immediately; it is of that I came to tell you to-night,” he said, with a grave face.