said I, "it's as true as
that he is your friend."

"I really don't know what all this means," said Hawkesbury, haughtily.
"I must ask Masham himself."

"I'm afraid you won't find him," I said. "He nearly murdered the boy
who was with us at the time. And as the report went out that the child
was actually dead, he is prudently keeping out of the way for the
present. I'm sure he will be--"

"Excuse me, Batchelor," said Hawkesbury, interrupting. "I really
haven't time to talk now. Kindly get on with your work, and I will do
the same."

I may not have derived much good by this edifying conversation, but I
had at least the satisfaction of feeling that Hawkesbury now knew what I
thought of his friend.

Jack said that evening he thought it was a pity I had said as much as I
had, and further reflection made me think the same. However, it
couldn't be helped now, and anything that made clear the estimation in
which I held Masham was on the whole no bad thing.

That evening when we got back we found Mr Smith at home. He had come,
he said, to insist on taking Jack's place with Billy for the night.
Jack protested in vain that he felt quite fresh, that he was not in the
least sleepy, and so on. Mr Smith was inexorable for once, so we had
finally to retire together to the room downstairs, and leave him in
possession.

As we said good-night he gave me a look which I well understood.

"It's awful nonsense," said Jack, "making out I want sleep. Why, I've
slept most of every night I've been up there. I'm sure more than he
has."

"He thinks a good deal about you, Jack, I fancy," said I, anxious to
steer the talk round in the required direction. Jack nodded and went
and opened the window.

"It's awfully close to-night," said he.

We stood leaning out of the window for some minutes, watching the few
passengers in the street below and saying nothing. What Jack was
thinking about I could not tell. What was passing through my mind I
knew well enough.

"How do you think he seems?" asked I, after a long pause.

"Who, Billy? He's getting on wonderfully."

"I didn't mean Billy," said I. "I meant Mr Smith."

"Oh, you ought to know better than I do. I really have hardly seen him
the last few days. I've not heard him cough so much, though."

"He's not been himself at all the last few days," I said.

"No wonder," said Jack. "That night's work was enough to upset
anybody."

"Oh, I don't mean in that way," I said