Dick, having "cleaned" and "stoked" himself with tea and toast,
vouchsafed for further information: "Anglemere's in Hampshire. It's a tremendous place, so a fellow at the
works says, who's seen it; one of the show places, you know; 'a
venerable pile,' with a collection of pictures, and a famous library,
and all that. Lord Angleford----"

"I remember!" Nell broke in, "I met Lady Angleford at Wolfer House; a
little woman, and very pretty. She was exceedingly kind to me."

"Sensible as well as pretty," murmured Falconer. He had drawn his chair
to the window, and was gazing down at the crowded street rather absently
and sadly. In a fortnight the girl who had brightened his life, who had
transformed Beaumont Buildings into an earthly paradise for him, would
be gone!

"Oh!" said Dick. "That would have been the late earl's wife. The present
one isn't married. He's a young chap--lucky bargee! The late earl died
about eighteen months ago, suddenly. I heard old Bardsley talking about
it while I was in the office with him. He's been away traveling----"

"Who--old Bardsley?" asked Nell.

"No, brainless one," said Dick; "the young earl, Lord Angleford. Rather
a curious sort of customer, I should fancy, for nobody seems to know
where he has been, or where he is. Left England suddenly--kind of
disappearance. They couldn't find him in time for the funeral, and he's
away still; but he's sent orders that this place--the beggar's got
three or four others in England and elsewhere, I believe--should be put
in fighting trim--water supply, new stables, electric light--the whole
bag of tricks. And I--I who speak to you--am going to be a kind of clerk
of the works. No need to go on your knees to me, Falconer; just simply
bow respectfully. You will find no alteration in me. I shall be as
pleasant and affable as ever. No pride in me."