u won't speak to the Major while I'm staying
in his house."

"Did you say that you knew Miss King?"

"Not intimately," said Meldon; "at least not very intimately. I
travelled down in the train with her yesterday, and we had a pleasant
chat together. If I wasn't married already--but there's no use talking
about that. And I don't for a moment suppose that the Major will care
about having a try. He's a confirmed old bachelor. Though it would be
a right good thing for him if he did. Miss King must have a whole pot
of money, and she looks to me the sort of woman whom it would be quite
easy to marry. I'm afraid I must be going now. I'm so glad I caught
you, Simpkins. I've heard a lot about you during the short time I've
been in Ballymoy; and I may say, without the least wish to flatter,
that I was most anxious to meet you. Good-bye, and be sure to call on
Miss King. It's a pity to think of that poor girl all alone in a great
barrack of a place like Ballymoy House, without a civilised creature to
speak to."

Meldon left the Office very well satisfied with himself. He went next
into the hotel. The day was hot, and there was very little going on in
the town. The streets were almost empty, for the country people were
busy on their farms. The hotel appeared to be entirely deserted. The
waiter had left the coffee room, and gone to visit a friend in the
police barrack. The barmaid, after finishing one penny novel, had gone
into the shop next door to borrow another from the milliner. Meldon
penetrated to the kitchen, and found an untidy maid asleep, very
uncomfortably, on an upright chair. She woke with a start when he
banged a frying-pan against the front of the oven.

"I hope I haven't startled you," he said politely. "I shall be greatly
obliged if you will tell me where Mr. Doyle is to be found."

"He's within in his own room; and what's more, the doctor's along with
him, and he did say that nobody was to be let next or nigh him by
reason of his being busy."

"If he's busy," said Meldon, "he's the only man in Ballymoy that is,
excepting myself; and any way that prohibition doesn't apply to me.
I'm an old friend. I'll just step in and see him. You needn't
announce me. If you like you can go to sleep again; but if I were you
I'd be beginning to get the dinner. It's near twelve o'clock."

"Is it, then?"

"It is. Is your name Bridget or Mary?"

"It's Sabina they call me."

"You're not a bad-lookin