"At any rate, I'll give you until to-night to make up your mind. I shall expect to hear from you before seven o'clock."
"You shall hear from me without fail," said Jimmy; "and, if by any chance I can't manage it, you will understand--won't you?--that it is not for any want of feeling for yourself."
"I know that, of course," said Browne; and thereupon the two young men shook hands.
A few moments later Browne bade him good-bye, and, calling a hansom, drove back to his own house. As soon as he had lunched he wrote to Katherine to tell her how things were proceeding. The afternoon was spent in the purchase of various articles which he intended to take with him. For this reason it was not until after six o'clock that he returned to his own house. When he did, the butler brought him a note upon a salver. He opened it, and found, as he expected, that it was from Jimmy.
"Dear old man," it ran, "I am coming with you, happen what may.--Always your friend, J. FOOTE."
"That is another step upon the ladder," said Browne.
In the morning following the receipt of the letter from Foote, as described in the previous chapter, Browne was walking from his house in Park Lane in the direction of Piccadilly, when he saw Maas coming towards him.
"This is a fortunate meeting, my dear Browne," said the latter, after they had greeted each other; "for I was on my way to call upon you. If you are walking towards Piccadilly perhaps you will permit me to save time by accompanying you."
Browne was not feeling particularly happy that morning, and this may have been the reason that he was glad of Maas's company. He stood in need of cheerful society. But though he wanted it, he was not destined to have it. It was a bleak, dreary morning, and once or twice during the walk the other coughed asthmatically. Browne noticed this, and he noticed also that Maas's face was even paler than usual.
"I am afraid you are not very well, old man," he said.
Browne gave him his reasons, and when he heard them the other laughed a little uneasily. "I am afraid you've hit it, my friend," he said. "I am not well. I've been to see my doctor this morning, and he has given me some rather unpleasant news."
"I am sorry indeed to hear that," said Browne. "What does he say is the matter with you?"