Page:Edgar Jepson--the four philanthropists.djvu/187

Rh it on pure romantic lines," said Chelubai sadly.

"I shouldn't," said Bottiger.

"That's settled then," I said "I'm nearly sure to see him in the course of the next few days. He will come round to thank me. I'll sound him; and, as I say, I really think I shan't find in him that gross sentimentality which has so hampered our human efforts to benefit Humanity in the case of other heirs."

"It's not very likely. There's no gross sentimentality in a man who has gone under," said Chelubai grimly.

Marmaduke Jubb came sooner than I expected, for about eleven next morning there came a knock at the door. Angel made her usual bolt for her room, and our housekeeper ushered him in.

We shook hands, and I saw that his face, though still pinched, lacked something of the gauntness of yesterday. "You must forgive my rushing away without thanking you last night," he began. "But I didn't know what I was doing. The money seemed too good to be true, and it took me by surprise."

"I understood, my good chap," I said. "And I don't want any thanks. I was only too glad to be of use."

"But I must thank you!" he cried. "You don't know what you did for us. We couldn't have gone on any longer—we absolutely couldn't!