slowly, after the pause that had followed his companion's speech.
"Where are you thinking of going?"

"Now, that was just what I was coming to see you about," replied his
friend. "You may remember that in Paris the other day, you spoke of
undertaking a trip to the Farther East. I laughed at it at the time,
for I thought I should never move out of Europe; since then, however,
or rather since the doctor gave me his unwholesome news this morning, I
have been thinking over it. I dined last night with the Rocktowers,
who, as you know, are just back from Japan, and found that they could
talk of nothing else. Japan was this, Japan was that, possessed the
most beautiful scenery in the world, the most charming people, and the
most perfect climate. So fascinated was I by their description that I
went home and dreamt about it; and I've got a sort of notion now that,
if I could only get as far as Japan, all would be well with me."

Now, from the very first moment that Maas had spoken of leaving
England, Browne had had an uneasy suspicion that something of the kind
was coming. In his inmost heart he knew very well what his companion
wanted; but, unfortunately for him, he did not see his way to get out
of it. When he had told Maas in Paris that he intended taking a
yachting cruise to the Farther East, and had laughingly suggested that
the latter should accompany him, he had felt quite certain in his own
mind that his invitation would be refused. To find him now asking to
be allowed to accept after all was almost too much for his equanimity.
Pleasant companion as Maas undoubtedly was, he was far from being the
sort of man Browne would have taken with him on such an excursion, had
he had the choice. Besides, he had already arranged that Jimmy should
go with him. Therefore, like the ingenuous youth he was, he took the
first way of getting out of his difficulty, and in consequence found
himself floundering in a still greater quagmire immediately.

"You have not booked your passage yet?" he inquired, as if the matter
of the other's going with him had never for a moment crossed his mind.

Maas threw a searching glance at him. He had a bold stroke to play,
and he did not quite know how to play it. Though he had known Browne
for some considerable time, and was well aware that he was far from
being an exceptionally clever young man, yet, for a reason which I
cannot explain, he stood somewhat in awe of him.

"Well, to tell the