Confidently yours,
Orlando Dignum (Major)."

I folded the letter, and nodded to Gumbo. "Tell your master that I
will delay only to shave and dress before calling on him."

The faithful fellow had been watching me anxiously. "In the name of
goodness, doctor, ain't you going to tell me what's wrong?"

"I know as little as you," said I. "But, whatever it is, the Major
thinks it serious; so run, my man, and say that I am following."

With something like a groan, Gumbo started off, and I turned to Mr.
MacRea. "You will find a cup of coffee in your room," I said.
"I must attend to this sudden call; but possibly by the time you have
washed and changed, I may be free to rejoin you at breakfast, when we
can talk at leisure."

The young man had caught up his valise, but set it down again and
laid three fingers on my sleeve. "You speak of a change of clothes,
sir. I will be frank with you--these breeches in which you behold me
are my only ones. They were a present from my mother's sister,
resident in Paisley, and I misdoubt there will have been something
amiss in her instructions to the tailor, for they gall me woundily--
though in justice to her and the honest tradesman I should add that
my legs, maybe, are out of practice since leaving Glasgow. At Largs,
sir, I have been reverting to the ancestral garb."

"You'll wear no such thing about the Hotwells," I interposed.

"Indeed, I was not thinking it likely. My purpose was to procure
another pair on my arrival--aye, and I would do so before breaking
fast, had not circumstances which I will not detain you by relating
put this for the moment out of the question. Do not mistake me, Dr.
Frampton. In public I will thole these dreadful articles, though it
cost me my skin; but in private, sir, if as a favour you will allow
me--if, as a bachelor yourself, you will take it _sans gene_.
And, by-the-by, I trust you will not scruple to point out any small
defects in my French accent, which has been acquired entirely from
books."

He had, in fact, pronounced it "jeen," but I put this by.
"Quite impossible, Mr. MacRea! I have to think of the servants."

"Eh? You have servants!"

"Four or five," said I.

His eyes seemed ready to start out of his head. "I had opined by the
way you opened the door with your own hand--" He broke off, and
exclaimed: "Four or five servants! It will be a grand practice of
yours! Well, go you