n't think me ungrateful," he said. "You dear, kind, good fellow,
consider for a moment, and you will see that it can't be. What would be
said of her and of me, if you made Susan rich with your money, and if I
married her? The poor innocent would be called your cast-off mistress.
People would say: 'He has behaved liberally to her, and his needy friend
has taken advantage of it.'"

The point of view which I had failed to see was put with terrible
directness of expression: the conviction that I was wrong was literally
forced on me. What reply could I make? Rothsay evidently felt for me.

"You are ill," he said, gently; "let me leave you to rest."

He held out his hand to say good-by. I insisted on his taking up his
abode with me, for the present at least. Ordinary persuasion failed to
induce him to yield. I put it on selfish grounds next.

"You have noticed that I am ill," I said, "I want you to keep me
company."

He gave way directly.

Through the wakeful night, I tried to consider what moral remedies might
be within our reach. The one useful conclusion at which I could arrive
was to induce Rothsay to try what absence and change might do to compose
his mind. To advise him to travel alone was out of the question. I wrote
to his one other old friend besides myself--the friend who had taken him
on a cruise in the Mediterranean.

The owner of the yacht had that very day given directions to have his
vessel laid up for the winter season. He at once countermanded the order
by telegraph. "I am an idle man," he said, "and I am as fond of Rothsay
as you are. I will take him wherever he likes to go." It was not easy to
persuade the object of these kind intentions to profit by them. Nothing
that I could say roused him. I spoke to him of his picture. He had left
it at my uncle's house, and neither knew nor cared to know whether it
had been sold or not. The one consideration which ultimately influenced
Rothsay was presented by the doctor; speaking as follows (to quote his
own explanation) in the interests of my health:

"I warned your friend," he said, "that his conduct was causing anxiety
which you were not strong enough to bear. On hearing this he at once
promised to follow the advice which you had given to him, and to join
the yacht. As you know, he has kept his word. May I ask if he has ever
followed the medical profession?"

Replying in the negative, I begged the doctor to tell me why he had put
his question.

He answe