"It is a present for you," said Hemming, dropping into a chair. O'Rourke put down his pen, and eyed his friend with an air of surprise.
"A present!" he exclaimed. "Why, my dear chap, surely I've been taking anything of yours that I happened to want long enough for you to see that there is no need of this depressing formality."
"But we've been such chums."
"You haven't just found that out, I hope."
Hemming shook his head.
"I'm going away," he explained, "and I suppose it will be without you this time."
"I wouldn't mind going to Staten Island," replied O'Rourke, "but for any farther than that you will have to mark me out."
"I sail for England to-morrow," Hemming informed him.
"Have you been—have you received a letter, or anything of that kind?" inquired his comrade.
"No, but Stanley told me I was a fool not to go back."