matter who I am," said Meldon. "The important fact
for you to grasp is that O'Donoghue is the officer of health of the
Union of Ballymoy. That's what you are, isn't it, O'Donoghue?"

"It is," said O'Donoghue.

"I'll make a note of it at once," said the judge.

"A mental note will do," said Meldon. "You needn't bother writing it
down. If you happen to forget it in the course of our conversation,
you've only got to mention that you have and I'll tell it to you again."

"Thanks," said the judge. "I'm so glad that we are to have a
conversation. When shall we begin?"

Sir Gilbert was enjoying Meldon very much so far. He'd never before
come across any one exactly like this clergyman, and he wanted to see
more of him.

"Perhaps," said Meldon, "as what we have to say is of a strictly
private kind, and may turn out to be actually libellous, we'd better go
down to the hotel."

"Certainly," said the judge. "I've ordered luncheon there. If you and
the medical officer of health will join me I shall be delighted. After
luncheon I shall have to leave you, I'm afraid. I have a long drive
before me. I'm on my way to Ballymoy."

"When you've heard what we have to say," said Meldon, "you won't go to
Ballymoy."

"I expect I shall," said the judge. "But of course I don't know yet
what form your libel is going to take. Still, I can hardly imagine
that the defamation of any one's character will keep me out of
Ballymoy. I have a car waiting for me outside the station, but I'm
afraid I cannot offer to drive you down to the hotel. I have a good
deal of luggage."

"As far as the luggage is concerned," said Meldon, "you may just as
well leave it here. There's no point in dragging a lot of trunks and
fishing-rods down to the hotel when you'll simply have to drag them all
back again. When you've heard what we have to say you'll take the next
train home."

"I don't expect I shall. In fact, I feel tolerably certain I shall go
on. I'll take the luggage with me any how, in case I do."

"You mustn't think," said Meldon, "that I'm suggesting your leaving the
luggage behind simply in order to get a seat on your car."

"I assure you," said the judge, "that such a suspicion never crossed my
mind."

"O'Donoghue and I both have bicycles, so we don't want to drive. He
has his own, a capital machine, and I borrowed Doyle's this morning,
which is quite sound except for the left pedal. It's a bit groggy, and
came off twice