hoolboy
business, his ears alert, his glasses shining, and his white teeth
going to and fro. He reminded me of a squirrel, a fancy to which the
little tufts of whiskers by his ears lent themselves. He eyed both of
us brightly.

"After all," said the third officer heavily, "it's more important in
the end to know your owner, let alone his travelling with you. I
wouldn't give two straws for the old man, velvet or iron, so long as I
could get the lug of my owner."

"You'll find them both all right," said Pye reassuringly. "Captain Day
I have seen and Mr. Morland I know."

"He is very rich?" I asked.

"I'll trouble you for a two and a half commission on it," said the
clerk cheerfully, "and then I'd live like a fighting-cock. At least,
that's what we all believe. There's no knowing."

The shadows of the November afternoon had gathered in the streets
without, and a thin scant rain was flying. Into the area of warmth and
brightness entered more customers, and shook the water from the
umbrellas. They stood at the bar and drank and talked noisily. Round
about us in the loom of the great barrels the shadows lurched from the
wagging gas-flames. The clerk had finished his apple.

"We will have another," said Holgate.

"This is mine," I said. He shook his head. I protested.

"Doctor, you confess you live in doubt," he said, "whereas I have my
appointment in my pocket. Plainly it is my right."

"I think that's a fair argument, doctor," said Pye.

"I am in both your debt," said I lightly. "For company and wine."

"I'm sure we shall owe you both many a time yet," said the third
officer civilly.

At the table near us two men had sat and were talking even as we, but
one had a half-penny paper, and turned the flimsy thing about, I fancy
in search of racing news.

"You see there is no doubt about you----," began Pye amiably, and
suddenly dropped his sentence.

In the unexpected silence I caught some words from the other table.

"Well, it's good pluck of him if he wants to marry her. What's the odds
if he is a Prince? Live and let live, I say."

Pye's little squirrel head turned round and he stared for a moment at
the speaker, then it came back again.

"You are uncommonly polite," said Holgate irritably.

"I'm sorry. I thought I recognised that voice," said the little man
sweetly. "One gets echoes everywhere. I was going to say we took you
for granted, doctor."

"It's good of you," said I. "But will Mr. Morland?"