“Given me the sack? No. Though, bless his innocent little heart, he’s had cause enough to. No, Mother, I have resigned. Place didn’t suit, as the servants say. Behold in your son a gentleman of leisure.”

“Left—left Inglewood, Browne’s? I don’t understand. Of course, I’m glad, if you didn’t like the place. And I shall love to have you at home. Only—only I’m afraid you’ll find it very dull here with nothing to do. And—and what about your pocket money? You’ve always been able to keep yourself in clothes and things out of what you’ve earned. I can help you a little perhaps, but it’s not much. And, you know, my money is only an annuity. If anything should happen to me——”

She bent her head over the suitcase to hide her confusion.

“There, Mother, that’s splendid. I can shut it myself. Let me give you an arm to help you up. Oops!”

He pulled her to her feet, and bending down, kissed her with unexpected tenderness.

“You’re not to worry about me,” he said. “I’m not going to come back here and hang about the house all day. Quite the contrary. Once more, in the language of the servants’ hall, I’ve left to better myself.”

“You’ve got another post, then? A better one? What is it? Another house agent?”

Frank smiled happily.

“No, not a house agent,” he said. “I’m going away, Mother, a long way away—that is, if Susan is still of the same mind as she was last Sunday. And you, relieved of the burden of your worthless child, are going to live at that cottage in Berks or Bucks or wherever it is you’ve always wanted to go, until such time as I return, rich with all the spoils of Africa——”

“Africa! Frank, you’re talking nonsense!”

“I am not! Africa I said, and to Africa I mean to go.”

“But how are you going to get to Africa?” persisted the perplexed old lady.

“Oh, by train and boat, I expect. That is the usual way, isn’t it? Unless I fly. Which reminds me, unless I do fly, now, I’m not going to get to Victoria in time.”

He fastened the suitcase with an effort.

“Good-bye, Mother, and don’t forget about the cottage. I mean it.”

He laughed down at her bewilderment, and kissed her again. “Back tomorrow, I expect,” he said. “I shall have a lot to do.

”For there are great things to be done,

And fine things to be seen,

Before we go to Paradise——“

“Frank!” She called him back as he was in the doorway, the suitcase swinging in his hand.

“Yes, what is it?”

“I had forgotten to tell you. Someone was asking about you today.”

“About me? Who?”

“A policeman.”

“A policeman?”