Campaspe_
declares he is unable to take me, so I shall have to wait.'

"I explained the reasons of the captain's reluctance, and offered him
a share of my cabin if Captain Dodge would consent to be burdened
with Railton's company.

"'Oh, for that matter,' replied he, 'Railton can follow; but he's a
handy fellow, and I daresay would make himself useful without
payment.'

"We consulted Captain Dodge, who admitted himself ready to take
another passenger, and even to accommodate Railton, if that were my
wish. Only, he explained, Mr. Sanderson had especially told him that
I should wish to be alone, being an invalid. So the bargain was
struck.

"Mr. Sanderson did not seem altogether pleased when I informed him
that I intended to take a companion. He asked many questions about
Colliver, and was especially anxious to know if I had confided
anything of my plans to him. So far was this from being the case
that Colliver, as I informed my host, had never betrayed the least
interest in my movements. At this Mr. Sanderson merely grunted, and
asked me when I intended to learn prudence, adding that one crack in
the head was enough for most men, but he supposed I wanted more.
I admit that, pleasant companion as Colliver is, I should prefer to
be entirely alone upon this adventure. But I could not deny the
invitation without appearing unnecessarily rude, and I owe him much
gratitude for having made the outward voyage so pleasant. Besides,
we shall part at Colombo.

"Nov. 25th.--I make this entry (my last upon Indian soil) just before
retiring to rest. To-morrow I sail for Colombo in the _Campaspe_.
But I cannot leave Bombay without dwelling once more on Mr.
Sanderson's great kindness. To-night, as we sat together for the
last time upon the balcony of Craigie Cottage, I declare that my
heart was too full for words. My host apparently was revolving other
thoughts, for when he spoke it was to say--

"'Visited his brother in Trichinopoly, eh? Only just returned, too--
h'm! What I want to know is, why the devil he returned at all?
There are plenty of vessels at Madras.'

"'But Colliver is not the man who cares to follow the shortest
distance between two points,' I answered. 'Why should he not return
to Bombay?'

"'I'll beg ye to observe,' said Mr. Sanderson, 'that the question is
not 'why shouldn't he?' but 'why should he?''

"'At any rate,' said I, 'I'll be on my guard.'

"This suspicion on my behalf has become qu