ear--a most intricate business, for hay varied a
good deal in price.

"Doyle's coming along the road in his trap," said Meldon, "and he looks
to me very much as if he was coming here. He must want to see you
about something. He can't possibly have any business with me."

"Hang Doyle!"

"If you like," said Meldon, "I'll deal with him and keep him off you.
I should rather enjoy a chat with Doyle."

"Thanks. I wish you would. It can't be anything important."

"I expect he has come for your subscription for the illuminated address
he and Dr. O'Donoghue are getting up for the police sergeant. I
promised the other day that you'd give something. If you sign a cheque
and stick it out on the window-sill, I'll fill up the amount and hand
it on to Doyle. I should say that one pound would be a handsome
contribution, and I may get you off with ten shillings. It'll all
depend on how the money is coming in. He's turning in at the gate now,
so you'd better hurry up.--Ah! Good morning, Doyle. Lovely day, isn't
it? Seen anything of our friend Simpkins this morning?"

"I have not," said Doyle, "and I don't want to. I wouldn't care if I
never set eyes on that fellow again."

"You'd have liked to have seen him yesterday," said Meldon.

"I would not."

"You would. The Major had him out for a day in the _Spindrift_, and--"
Meldon winked.

Doyle got down from his trap and stood at the horse's head.

"A sicker man," said Meldon, "you never saw."

"Sick!"

"As a dog. Beastly sick. I don't care to enter into details; but,
considering the small amount he ate during the day, the way he kept at
it would have surprised you."

"Sick! What's the good of being sick? Why didn't you drown him?"

"We had Miss King out too," said Meldon, "and we didn't want to drown
her. Besides, it wasn't the kind of day in which you could very well
drown any one."

"What brought me over here this morning," said Doyle, "was--"

"I know," said Meldon. "You want to gather in the Major's subscription
to the illuminated address with the apple trees in the corners. You
shall have it. He's signing the cheque this minute."

"I'll take it, of course," said Doyle, "if it's quite convenient to the
Major; but it wasn't it I came for."

"What was it, then? If you have any idea of dragging the Major into
that salmon ambuscade of O'Donoghue's, I tell you plainly I won't have
it."

"It's nothing of the kind," said Doyle. "After what you s