great
deal. From the hall outside, he looked back at his son.

"I think I shall see M'Clintock next time I'm in town, Duggy. I've had
some queer pains across my chest lately."

"Indigestion?" said Douglas. His tone was casual.

"Perhaps. Oh, they're nothing. But it's best to take things in time."

He walked away, leaving his son in a state of seething irritation.
Extraordinary that a man could think of trumpery ailments at such a
time! It was unlike his father too, whose personal fitness and
soundness, whether on the moors, in the hunting field, or in any other
sort of test, had always been triumphantly assumed by his family, as
part of the general brilliance of Sir Arthur's role in life.

Douglas sombrely set himself to study the picture catalogue, and sat
smoking and making notes till nearly midnight. Having by that time
accumulated a number of queries to which answers were required, he went
in search of his father. He found him in the drawing-room, still playing
backgammon with Lady Laura.

"Oh Duggy, I'm so tired!" cried his mother plaintively, as soon as he
appeared. "And your father will go on. Do come and take my place."

Sir Arthur rose.

"No, no, dear--we've had enough. Many thanks. If you only understood its
points, backgammon is really an excellent game. Well, Duggy, ready to
go to bed?"

"When I've asked you a few questions, father."

Lady Laura escaped, having first kissed her son with tearful eyes. Sir
Arthur checked a yawn, and tried to answer Douglas's enquiries. But very
soon he declared that he had no more to say, and couldn't keep awake.

Douglas watched him mounting the famous staircase of the house, with its
marvellous _rampe_, bought under the Bourbon Restoration from one of the
historic chateaux of France; and, suddenly, the young man felt his heart
gripped. Was that shrunken, stooping figure really his father? Of course
they must have M'Clintock at once--and get him away--to Scotland
or abroad.

* * * * *

"The two gentlemen are in the red drawing-room, sir!" Douglas and his
father were sitting together in the library, after lunch, on the
following afternoon, when the butler entered.

"Damn them!" said Sir Arthur under his breath. Then he got up, smiling,
as the servant disappeared. "Well, Duggy, now's your chance. I'm a brute
not to come and help you, my boy. But I've made such a mess of driving
the family coach, you'd really better take a turn. I