found inspiration, Mr. Knight proceeded, in a hand distinguished by many
fine flourishes:

' ... It is true that last year we only paid off some four
millions, but the year before we paid, I am thankful to say, more
than nine millions. Why, then, this outcry against the allocation
of somewhat less than nine millions out of our vast national
revenue towards the further extinction of the National Debt? _It is
not the duty of the State, as well as of the individual, to pay its
debts?_ In order to support the argument with which I began this
communication, perhaps you will permit me, sir, to briefly outline
the history of the National Debt, our national shame. In 1688 the
National Debt was little more than six hundred thousand pounds....'

After briefly outlining the history of the National Debt, Mr. Knight
began a new paragraph thus:

'In the immortal words of Shakspere, wh----'

But at this point he was interrupted. A young and pleasant woman in a
white apron pushed open the door.

'Henry,' she called from the doorway.

'Well?'

'You'd better go now.'

'Very well, Annie; I'll go instantly.'

He dropped the pen, reduced the gas to a speck of blue, and in half a
minute was hurrying along Oxford Street. The hour was ten o'clock, and
the month was July; the evening favoured romance. He turned into Bury
Street, and knocked like fate at a front-door with a brass tablet on it,
No. 8 of the street.

'No, sir. He isn't in at the moment, sir,' said the maid who answered
Mr. Knight's imperious summons.

'Not in!' exclaimed Mr. Knight.

'No, sir. He was called away half an hour ago or hardly, and may be out
till very late.'

'Called away!' exclaimed Mr. Knight. He was astounded, shocked, pained.
'But I warned him three months ago!'

'Did you, sir? Is it anything very urgent, sir?'

'It's----' Mr. Knight hesitated, blushing. The girl looked so young and
innocent.

'Because if it is, master left word that anyone was to go to Dr.
Christopher's, 22, Argyll Street.'

'You will be sure to tell your master that I came,' said Mr. Knight
frigidly, departing.

At 22, Argyll Street he was informed that Dr. Christopher had likewise
been called away, and had left a recommendation that urgent cases, if
any, should apply to Dr. Quain Short, 15, Bury Street. His anger was
naturally increased by the absence of this second doctor, but it was far
more increased by t