s-a-vis_ regarded him with a very natural surprise.
Then:

"You seem a little astonished," he said, with a hint of stiffness in his
manner. "May I ask if my name is familiar to you? I don't think I
remember yours--though"--he stole another glance at the card, and his
brows drew together a little thoughtfully--"Now that I come to look at
it I do seem to have heard it before."

"I daresay you have, if you have lived in India. Unfortunately, my name
was pretty well known in that country once, for the proverbial nine
days." His voice was a little savage. "But don't trouble about _my_
name--let me admit at once that yours is perfectly familiar to me."

He broke off as the waiter approached with their glasses; and until he
had vanished Anstice said no more. Then he continued steadily:

"You see I am living at present in Littlefield; and I have the honour of
being acquainted with a lady bearing the same name as yourself."

"You mean my wife?" He spoke calmly; and Anstice found himself admiring
the other's composure. "Then you will be able to give me the latest news
of her and of my little daughter. Has she--Cherry, I mean--quite
recovered from that serious burning accident in September?"

"Quite, I think." For a second Anstice's heart was sick within him as he
remembered the night on which that accident had taken place; but he
stifled the memory and continued steadily. "She got over it splendidly,
and she is not marked by even the tiniest scar."

"That's a good thing." Major Carstairs took a drink from the contents of
his glass, and then, setting it down, looked Anstice squarely in the
face. "See here, Dr. Anstice, by a strange coincidence you and I have
been brought together this afternoon, and I should be very much obliged
if you will be kind enough to answer me one or two questions."

"I am quite ready to answer any questions you may care to ask, Major
Carstairs." Anstice sat upright and pushed aside his glass, and Major
Carstairs began at once.

"First of all, how long have you been in Littlefield?"

"A little over twelve months. I went there, to be exact, in September of
last year."

"I see. And you have been acquainted with Mrs. Carstairs during the
whole of that time?"

"Not quite. I first met Mrs. Carstairs in the spring, when I was called
in to attend her professionally."

"I see. As a doctor you will naturally be acquainted with many people in
the neighbourhood; and that being so"--Major Carstairs mois