brother is not a man with many friends, Mr. Pratt," the
physician proceeded, "and in the present state of the stock markets it
has not been thought advisable to advertise his illness. I dare say,
therefore, that Mr. Morse will be very glad of your advice and help in
many directions. I know, in fact, that he has been anxiously awaiting
it."

"I have indeed," the young man confessed earnestly. "Mr. Pratt as a
rule enjoys such excellent health that we have never even contemplated
a situation like this."

"I shall be pleased to do what I can," Jacob promised, a little
dubiously. "My brother and I are partners, of course, in the Pratt Oil
Combine, but I know very little of his affairs outside."

The physician smiled.

"Your brother has the reputation of being extraordinarily fortunate,"
he said. "That, however, is outside my province. I have only to add,
Mr. Pratt, that the invalid has two nurses, the best I could find in
New York, in constant attendance upon him. Any change in his condition
would bring me to his bedside in less than ten minutes. Until
to-morrow, I beg to take my leave."

The physician hurried away, and a few minutes later Morse also excused
himself, on the pretext of a heavy mail. Jacob and his young companion
made luxurious use of their wonderful bathrooms, subsequently attiring
themselves in the garments laid out by a ubiquitous and efficient
valet, after which Felixstowe set up his typewriter and insisted upon
justifying his existence. Jacob accordingly dictated a few lines to
Dauncey, which his anxious secretary took down with great care.
Felixstowe smudged his fingers badly with the carbon copy and, after
Jacob had appended his signature, stamped and addressed the missive
with punctilious attention.

"There is no doubt whatever," he declared, as he gave the letter over
to the care of a specially summoned servant and threw himself into the
most comfortable of the easy-chairs, "that a certain amount of work
does give spice to the day's pleasure."

"You'll have to do a great deal more than that," Jacob warned him,
"when the busy days come along."

"And why not?" was the grandiloquent reply. "When I get going, I shall
be able to do a great deal more without fatigue. Six o'clock, old
dear," he added, glancing at his watch, "and mark you, something tells
me that before long that genial blackamoor, with the smile which seems
to slit his face in two, will be here with cocktails. Footsteps
outside!