anytime become so. You should not take violent exercise."

"Oh, indeed. It would hurt me to run a half mile?"

"It would be very dangerous."

"And a mile?"

"Would be almost certainly fatal."

"Then there is nothing else the matter?"

"No. But if the heart is weak, then everything is weak, and the life is
not a sound one."

"You see, Admiral," remarked Mr. Metaxa, as the doctor secreted his
stethoscope once more in his hat, "my remarks were not entirely uncalled
for. I am sorry that the doctor's opinion is not more favorable, but
this is a matter of business, and certain obvious precautions must be
taken."

"Of course. Then the matter is at an end."

"Well, we might even now do business. I am most anxious to be of use
to you. How long do you think, doctor, that this gentleman will in all
probability live?"

"Well, well, it's rather a delicate question to answer," said Dr.
Proudie, with a show of embarrassment.

"Not a bit, sir. Out with it! I have faced death too often to flinch
from it now, though I saw it as near me as you are."

"Well, well, we must go by averages of course. Shall we say two years? I
should think that you have a full two years before you."

"In two years your pension would bring you in L1,600. Now I will do my
very best for you, Admiral! I will advance you L2,000, and you can make
over to me your pension for your life. It is pure speculation on my
part. If you die to-morrow I lose my money. If the doctor's prophecy
is correct I shall still be out of pocket. If you live a little longer,
then I may see my money again. It is the very best I can do for you."

"Then you wish to buy my pension?"

"Yes, for two thousand down."

"And if I live for twenty years?"

"Oh, in that case of course my speculation would be more successful. But
you have heard the doctor's opinion."

"Would you advance the money instantly?"

"You should have a thousand at once. The other thousand I should expect
you to take in furniture."

"In furniture?"

"Yes, Admiral. We shall do you a beautiful houseful at that sum. It is
the custom of my clients to take half in furniture."

The Admiral sat in dire perplexity. He had come out to get money, and to
go back without any, to be powerless to help when his boy needed every
shilling to save him from disaster, that would be very bitter to him. On
the other hand, it was so much that he surrendered, and so little that
he received. Little, and yet something. Would