level stretch of road Meldon
drew rapidly ahead and might have reached Ballymoy a whole mile in
front of O'Donoghue if the pedal of Doyle's bicycle had not failed him
again. The accident gave the doctor his opportunity. He came up with
Meldon and asked his question.

"What difference will the judge make to Simpkins? That's what I want
to know, and I won't go on blindfold doing exactly what you tell me.
If I saw my way it would be different."

"I can't explain the position fully to you," said Meldon, "without
giving away a secret which isn't really mine; a secret which involves
the honour of a lady. But when I tell you that my plan for getting rid
of Simpkins permanently involves my marrying him to Miss King, you'll
no doubt be able to make out for yourself why it is absolutely
necessary to keep Sir Gilbert Hawkesby out of Ballymoy. Any
intelligent man, able to put two and two together, ought to see the
whole thing, especially if he's been reading the newspapers."

O'Donoghue sat down on the bank at the side of the road and thought
deeply. Meldon worked vehemently at the pedal.

"I can't see in the least what you're at," said O'Donoghue at last.
"But it doesn't matter. If your plan of making Simpkins marry that
lady depends on your keeping the judge out of the place, then, so far
as I can see, it's done for. He's coming in spite of you."

"My plan will be all right," said Meldon, "if he doesn't stay; and I
think he won't stay."

"He doesn't seem to mind drains a bit; and he'll mind them less when he
sees them. They're bad, of course; but they're not near so bad as you
made out. I don't expect a man that age will catch anything."

"I'm not now relying on the drains," said Meldon. "I quite give in
that they've failed. I'm on my way back to make other arrangements
which will have him out of Ballymoy in twenty-four hours."

"You mean the chloride of lime in his bedroom."

"That and other things. I'm convinced that we run a grave risk every
hour he spends in Ballymoy, and so I shall naturally take pretty strong
measures to get him out."

"Don't mix me up in them if you can help it. I backed you up about the
drains, but for a man in my position it doesn't do to go too far,
especially with a judge."

"All you have to do," said Meldon, "is to supply the chloride of lime
and the Condy's Fluid. I shan't ask you to do anything else. You
can't complain about a trifle like that. Most men would do a great