en't reached that point yet," said the lawyer,
smiling. "This is Dr. Phillimore, whom you wished me to----"

"Ah, yes," said Mr. Morland, and he put out a hand mechanically. "You
will arrange it," he said to the other, with an air of command.

"Most certainly, sir, but I thought you would like to see, being on the
spot----"

"No, there is only one thing. You know anything of throats?" he asked
suddenly.

I told him I had studied under a specialist at the hospital, as it
happened. In these days we doctors are compelled to take special
courses in order to keep march with the times.

"That is right," he said, nodding, and the smile that came upon his
face turned the eyes bluer. He looked quite handsome. "We must all keep
step with the times. I will look to you to arrange it," he added again
to the lawyer, and seemed to wait for my dismissal. The solicitor bowed
me sharply from the room, for was not his millionaire client in
waiting? And I went down the stairs.

It was now past four, and as I came out into the Square I saw before me
the little lawyer's clerk who had entered the room and had been called
Pye. He was talking amiably to another man, and as I passed smiled at
me through his pince-nez.

"You saw Mr. Morland?" he asked in a friendly way.

"Yes," I said, and looked at the stranger. There seemed no necessity to
say more.

"It is odd that you should encounter here, gentlemen," said Pye,
adjusting his glasses, "and yet I suppose it isn't. Mr. Holgate, this
gentleman is the future doctor of the _Sea Queen_."

"Oh, dear me, it isn't settled," said I, with a laugh.

Pye beamed at me. "I think I know my chief's face," he said. "It's my
business to interpret him, particularly when he can't interpret
himself."

The other man laughed lazily. He was a man with a big body, and a face
round and gross in proportion, heavy-lidded eyes, and an imperturbable
expression.

"This is Mr. Holgate, the third officer," said Pye, by way of
introduction, and somehow or other we began to walk in the direction of
Holborn. When we had threaded the Great Turnstile the little clerk
hesitated and swung round. "I was going to drink a glass of wine with
Mr. Holgate. Perhaps you would join us, sir?"

"Gladly," said I, for I had made up my mind to take tea before
returning to Wapping, and somehow my interview had inspirited me. I
took a sanguine view of my chances, for all my words to Pye. Moreover,
I have always been interested in