ir of the room seemed to tighten round them. That doctor was no
fool. He must feel something--what, how much? He pursed his lips.

"Just as you like, of course," he said briefly. "It would seem that
there can be very little difference in judgment as to the expediency of
burying a dead man, however. If that is what you mean. I will do as
this young man suggests. These matters, of course, have a certain
formality. There are precedents.... Ah, yes. Good-day, gentlemen."

He looked toward the door, which Weldon, in his capacity of master of
ceremonies, opened for him, and passed out, drawing a deep breath as he
crossed the threshold and hurrying, it seemed to Weldon, down the
corridor. Did he want to be rid of them? It seemed so.

There they were. All the directors but Webb. All that counted, that
is. One would imagine it a meeting of the board. Then why was he
here? Suddenly he lost himself in a great yawn, and realized that he
was dying of sleepiness. Neither last night nor the night before had
he closed his eyes.

"As there seems nothing more for me to do, gentlemen," he said
abruptly, "I think I will go now. There is no more assistance----"

"Wait for Webb," cried Potter nervously, "wait, won't you? I--I insist
on it!"

One felt really sorry for this rich, fat man. How ludicrously he
resembled his caricatures!

"I really wish you would wait for Mr. Webb, Mr. Weldon," Dupont assured
him, "it would be a great convenience. You could tell him just how it
happened, you know. Just. You see, your being there, you know...."

"Of course I will stay, if you desire it," Weldon answered gravely,
wondering if he could keep awake. His eyeballs fairly dragged down.
The tall clock's tick confused itself with his thoughts: _one, two!
one, two! one, two!_ Suppose he were to run now, with the "memoranda,
etc.," and take whatever Mr. Deeping had been going to take? That was
folly, if the rest didn't know. Then he would be a common criminal.
If they did know, then he could leave his memoranda slip and they would
understand and make up the sum amongst them. Let Webb and Potter fork
out, for once. Let them bleed the depositors. _One, two! one, two!
one, two!_ Why not? why not? why not? His eyes fairly closed for a
second.

But a soft click of the door opened them. There was no knocking here.
The curtain moved and Mr. Webb was in the room. Involuntarily they
rose to meet him, and Fayles for the first