as not sure that I could trust Mr. Logan, who has
rather a warm temper, to conduct the negotiations. Thirdly, I fear I
must confess that I did what I have done--well, "for human pleasure."'

'Ah, you are young,' said the doctor, sighing.

'Now,' said Merton, 'shall I sign a promise? We can call Dr. Fogarty up
to witness it. By the bye, what about "value received"? Shall we say
that we purchase your ethnological collection?'

The doctor grinned, and assented, the deed was written, signed, and
witnessed by Dr. Fogarty, who hastily retreated.

'Now about restoring the marquis,' said Merton. 'He's here, of course;
it was easy enough to get him into an asylum. Might I suggest a gag, if
by chance you have such a thing about you? To be removed, of course,
when once I get him into the house of a friend. And the usual bandage
over his eyes: he must never know where he has been.'

'You think of everything, Mr. Merton,' said the doctor. 'But, how are
you to account for the marquis's reappearance alive?' he asked.

'Oh _that_--easily! My first theory, which I fortunately mentioned to
his medical attendant, Dr. Douglas, in the train, before I reached
Kirkburn, was that he had recovered from catalepsy, and had secretly
absconded, for the purpose of watching Mr. Logan's conduct. We shall
make him believe that this is the fact, and the old woman who watched
him--'

'Plucky old woman,' said the doctor.

'Will swear to anything that he chooses to say.'

'Well, that is your affair,' said the doctor.

'Now,' said Merton, 'give me a receipt for 750_l_.; we shall tell the
marquis that we had to spring 250_l_. on his original offer.'

The doctor wrote out, stamped, and signed the receipt. 'Perhaps I had
better walk in front of you down stairs?' he asked Merton.

'Perhaps it really would be more hospitable,' Merton acquiesced.

Merton was ushered again into Dr. Fogarty's room on the ground floor.
Presently the other doctor reappeared, leading a bent and much muffled up
figure, who preserved total silence--for excellent reasons. The doctor
handed to Merton a sealed envelope, obviously the marquis's will. Merton
looked closely into the face of the old marquis, whose eyes, dropping
senile tears, showed no sign of recognition.

Dr. Fogarty next adjusted a silken bandage, over a wad of cotton wool,
which he placed on the eyes of the prisoner.

Merton then took farewell of Dr. Melville (_alias_ Markham); he and Dr.
Fog