The Lighted Way

his private office to the street. There was something which until that second had entirely slipped his memory. It was not his umbrella, for that, neatly tucked up, wa

important than either of these-

hardest-worked clerks in London bent over their ledgers and invoicing. With his forefinger-a fat, p

step this way," hi

ncealed by gold-rimmed spectacles. He was possessed of extraordinary talents with regard to the details of th

a curious and altogether unu

s a matter-a little matter-upon

merican

l," Mr. Weatherley interrupted, ru

?" Mr. Jarvi

erley, you know-is giving a party this evening-having some friends to dinner first, and then some other people coming to brid

asp the situation, but failed. All that he could do

and that's the truth, Mr. Jarvis. It's a good club. I got elected there-well, never mind how-but it's one thi

cial superiors. He knew the capital of the firm, and its status. He was ignorant of the other things which counted-as ignorant as his master had been until he had paid a business visit a few years ago, in search of certain edibles, t

sir," began Mr. Jarv

n-there are twelve of them in there, aren't there?" he added, jerking

nodded th

r, sir," he declared, "a

dict him. As a matter of fact

n is which,"

he had been consulted. His fingers

of any use pe

yer shook

ingle man, Jarvis," he said, "and bes

mitted, "not having, as a rule, the time to sp

a little brusquely. "There's only one young man in the office,

r, and I'm sure his father would accept it as a high compliment. Mr. Stephen Tidey Senior, s

aldermanic father. His complexion was poor, however, his neck thick, and he wore a necktie of red silk drawn through a diamond ring. There was nothing in his appearance which grated pa

y. "I was thinking of that young fellow at the end of the desk

hough he was, permitted himse

Surely you're not

demanded. "There's nothi

a week, and we know nothing whatever about him except that his references were satisfactory. It isn't to be supposed that he would feel at home in your hous

was getting a l

oment, anyway," he directe

ered the office and touched the youn

to you outside, Chetwode," he

straight, with deep brown hair, excellent features, and the remnants of a healthy tan still visible on his forehead and neck, he looked curiously out of place in this unwholesome, gaslit building with its atmosphere of cheese and bacon. He would have been noticeably good-looking upon the cricket field or in any gathering of people belonging to the other side of life. Here he seemed almost a curiously incongruous figure. He passed th

remarked. "I hope that my work has given satisfaction? I know that I

o tell the truth, tha

that note of condescension which he felt to be in order. "No compl

possessed of gifts quite unusual at his age. Not by the flic

. "Yes, I have played at-I

king very rapidly, "bridge afterwards. We happen to be a man short. I was to have called at the club to try and pick up some one-find I

relieved. He felt at the same time a certain measure of a

sir," he answered, without hesi

should have imagined a sort of high-tea supper at seven o'clock, and been gently corrected by his courteous employer. As it was, M

g for bridge afterwards, you see. I live up Hampste

give respecting toilet, and turned away. His youthful emplo

, sir," he said. "I will

quaintances on the way. Opposite the London & Westminster Bank he paused for a moment and looked searchingly around. Satisfied that he was unobserved, he stepped quickly i

ome," he ord

e. Mr. Jarvis bustled in after him. He was annoyed, but he wished to conceal the fact.

moothly. "First time any one except myself has be

when his employer had been unwell, and had waited i

murmured, with hi

, "that it will be an evening-dress affair. Mrs.

e young man, who was alre

mething. If I wear a black coat and a white silk bow, and stick a red handkerchief in underneath my wai

to acquaint this young countryman with the necessities of

replied, falsely. "You'll have to do the best you c

this over-favored young man in the drawing-room of Mrs. Weatherley, attired in the nondescript fashion which his words had suggested. One or two of the clerk