een._" He consulted some note before him. "I see. Your
name has been mentioned to my client in this connection. I assume you
are fully qualified?"

I told him the facts and referred him to the "Medical Year-Book."
"Moreover," I added, "I have no doubt, if a recommendation were
necessary, Sir John Wemyss, of Harley Street, would be willing to write
to you."

"Sir John Wemyss," he echoed reflectively. "Oh, yes, the cancer man.
Let me see, he was President, wasn't he, of the College of Surgeons?"

"Yes, some years ago," I answered.

"A good man," he declared with a friendly air of patronage. "Well, I
don't suppose there would be any difficulty on that score if Sir John
will write. My client is a prudent man, and would naturally like to
have the best advice available. Moreover, he is quite willing to pay
for it. There is, of course, that question," and he looked at me as if
inviting my suggestion.

I laughed. "Really I have no views, only that naturally I should like
as large a salary as is compatible with the circumstances."

"Very well, Dr. Phillimore," said he, nodding. "I daresay we can
arrange that too. You are young yet, and the position might lead----"
He broke off, as the baize door on his left opened noiselessly. "What
is it, Pye?"

The clerk bent down and whispered to him. "Oh, very well! It's
opportune in a way. Will you ask Mr. Morland to be good enough to come
in?"

The little clerk went out with his neat walk, and the solicitor rose.
"I shall be able to introduce you to my client, who is the owner of the
_Sea Queen_," he said, with a certain change of voice, and quickly
went forward to the outer door.

"How do you do, Mr. Morland?" he exclaimed, with a cheerful deference,
such as was due to the presence of wealth. "I was just engaged on a
little matter of yours. I hope you came right up. These dull offices go
so much by routine. It was the question of a doctor, sir."

As he spoke he indicated me, and for the first time I saw Mr. Morland.

He was a man of thirty-five, of middle height, slightly disposed to
stoutness, but with a fine carriage, and with a bronzed, good-looking
face, rendered heavier for the dull expression of his blue eyes. His
hair, which was short and worn _en brosse_, after a foreign fashion,
was straw-yellow.

"Is it the doctor?" he asked, after a glance at me, and though he spoke
excellent English, there was also something a little foreign in his
accent.

"Well, sir, we hav