me with drink and sent me home as himself," cut in
Jones, "and I woke up in a strange bed with a guy pulling up the window
blinds."

"A guy?" put in Cavendish.

"A chap. Church is his name--I thought I was being bamboozled, so I
determined to play the part of Lord Rochester--you know the rest."
Turning to the Duke of Melford.

"Well," said Cavendish, "I don't think we need ask any more questions of
Mr. Jones; we are convinced, I believe, that Mr. Jones and--er--the Earl
of Rochester are different."

"Quite so," said Simms, "we are sure of his _bonafides_ and of course it
is for the family to decide how to meet this extraordinary situation. I
am sure they will sympathize with Mr. Jones and make no trouble. It is
quite evident he had no wrong intent."

"Now you are talking," said Jones.

"Quite so--One more question, does it seem to you I have not been
talking at all up to this?"

Jones laughed. "It seems to me you have uttered _one_ word or two--ask a
bee in a bottle, has it been buzzing."

The cadaverous Cavendish, who, from his outward appearance presented no
signs of a sense of humour, exploded at this hit, but Simms remained
unmoved.

"Quite so," said he. "Well, that's all that remains to be said--but, now
as a professional man, has not all this tried you a good deal, Mr.
Jones?--I should think it was enough to try any man's health."

"Oh, my health is all right," said Jones. "I can eat and all that, but,
times, I've felt as if I wasn't one person or the other, that's one of
my main reasons for quitting, leaving aside other things. You see I had
to carry on up to a certain point, and, if you'll excuse me blowing my
own horn, I think I've not done bad. I could have put my claws on all
that money--If I hadn't been a straight man, there's a lot of things I
could have done, 'pears to me. Well, now that everything is settled, I
think that ought to be taken into consideration. I don't ask much, just
a commission on the money salved."

"Decidedly," said Simms. "In my opinion you are quite right. But as a
professional man my concern just a moment ago was about your health."

"Oh, the voyage back to the States will put that right."

"Quite so, but you will excuse my professional instinct--and I am giving
you my services for nothing, if you will let me--I notice signs of nerve
exhaustion--Let's look at your tongue."

Jones put out his tongue.

"Not bad," said Simms. "Now just cross your legs."

Jones cross