y-go-rounds.... Gee! What's that?"

The young man slipped from the bed and crossed the room to where, on
a very handsome little round table, a bottle of whisky and other
appurtenances were attractively displayed.

"The one thing I needed to send me to sleep like a top was a
nightcap," he declared, mixing himself a drink. "Jacob, have you any
more relatives? Let's visit 'em all."

"You go to bed," Jacob insisted. "I'm going to turn out the light
directly."

Lord Felixstowe, his glass in his hand, one-stepped lightly out of the
room, humming under his breath a little ditty which seemed to contain
dual references to a prospective sovereignty of the May and the hour
at which he would like his shaving water. Jacob turned over and slept
the sleep of the just.

CHAPTER XXVI

Soon after breakfast, on the following morning, Doctor Bardolf was
shown into Jacob's sitting-room. He held his watch in his hand.
Outside the house, the engine of his great automobile was purring
gently.

"No change, Mr. Pratt," he announced. "All the symptoms, however,
continue to be decidedly favourable."

"Capital!" Jacob exclaimed. "When shall you be here again?"

"I am coming in this afternoon, simply in case that slight alteration
in my patient's condition should have occurred, which will enable you
to visit him. I rather gather, from certain indications, that the
change is close at hand."

"Very considerate of you, I am sure, Doctor," Jacob observed
gratefully.

"In the meantime, Mr. Pratt," the physician enquired, replacing his
watch in his waistcoat pocket, "can I be of any service to you? Your
brother is a personal friend of mine as well as a patient, and I
should like to show you any attention agreeable to you. Would you
care, for instance, to see over one of our big hospitals?"

"I'm not keen about it," Jacob admitted frankly. Doctor Bardolf
smiled.

"Like your brother, Mr. Jacob," he remarked, "you're candid, I see.
I'm afraid I sometimes let my professional predilections run away with
me. I'll send you cards, if you will allow me, for two clubs I think
you would like to see something of, and if you'll do me the honour of
dining with me one night, as soon as your brother's condition has
shown the change we are waiting for, I shall be honoured."

"Very kind of you--delighted," Jacob murmured.

Whereupon the physician took his leave and was succeeded within a very
few moments by Morse. The latter bowed to Jacob and