of the current scandal
about his wife and Danvers, the voice of the latter person broke in upon
his musings.

"Hallo, Bruce, how are you?" he exclaimed genially as he sprang up
the steps, and extended his hand to the doctor; "I see that Brabant is
back."

Bruce answered him curtly enough. "Yes; but you don't know him, do you?"

Danvers clasped his hands over one knee and leant back in his chair.
"No; but I see Mrs. Brabant a good deal, and naturally should like to
meet her husband. You know him pretty well, don't you?"

"Yes, I do--have known him for nearly ten years." Then he moved his
chair slightly so that he might face Danvers. He was not an impulsive
man, but as he looked into Danvers's smiling, handsome face the dislike
he had always felt towards him, and his keen regard for Brabant, urged
him to speak on the subject that was uppermost in his mind, there and
then.

"I'm glad I have met you, Captain Danvers," he said quietly, "as I
particularly wished to speak to you about a certain matter, and, as you
know, I am not often in town."

"Certainly, my dear fellow. What is it?"

"Your question to me just now saves me a lot of explanation. You asked
me if I knew Brabant, and I told you that I have known him for ten
years. And I must tell you further that he is a man for whom I have
the deepest regard and respect. Therefore," and he emphasised the
'therefore,' "you can of course guess the nature of the matter upon
which I wish to speak with you."

"'Pon my soul, I can't," and Danvers elevated his eyebrows in pretended
astonishment, though his face flushed as he met the doctor's steady,
unnerving glance.

Still keeping his eyes on Danvers's face, Bruce went on: "Brabant is a
valued friend of mine. He is as unsuspecting and confiding a man as ever
lived, but he is a dangerous man to be trifled with. Do you understand
me?"

"I'm hanged if I do," replied Danvers, though the angry flash of his
clear blue eyes belied his words; "what are you driving at? Just say in
plain words what you have to say, and be done with it."

"Right. Plain words. And as few as possible. You have paid Mrs. Brabant
such attention that her husband is like to hear of it. Isn't that
enough?"

Danvers laughed insolently. "Enough to show me that you are meddling
with affairs which do not concern you, Dr. Bruce. I rather imagine
that the lady's husband would be the proper person to resent any undue
attention being paid by me to his wife--