the hair
that's on your own head black, nor yet yellow."

"My hair," said Meldon, "is what's called auburn; and in any case I
have more strength of character than to be driven into untruthfulness
by the colour of my hair. Did you say it was Dr. O'Donoghue was inside
with Mr. Doyle?"

"It is," said Sabina.

"I suppose, now, he isn't particularly fond of Mr. Simpkins either."

Sabina grinned broadly.

"From the pleasant way in which you're smiling," said Meldon, "I think
I may take it for granted that Dr. O'Donoghue wouldn't go far out of
his way to find out exactly the kind of medicine that would cure Mr.
Simpkins if by any chance he happened to fall sick."

"He would not. But they do say he'd poison him if he got the chance."

"I don't want him to do that. I should be very sorry if he did. All I
want to be sure of is that the doctor wouldn't put himself out to cure
Mr. Simpkins if anybody else poisoned him."

"The Lord save us!" said Sabina. "Is it murder you're thinking of?"

"It is not," said Meldon. "Don't get any foolish idea of that kind
into your head. I'm not a murderer. I'm merely putting what is called
a supposititious case, with a view to finding out what Dr. O'Donoghue's
real feelings are. I don't suppose you know what a supposititious case
is?"

"I do not. It was a backward place where I was reared, and I wasn't
kept to school regular; and what's more, the Irish wasn't taught in
them times."

"It wouldn't have helped you much if it was," said Meldon. "A
supposititious case is the same thing, very nearly, as a hypothetical
proposition. It consists of two parts, a protasis and an apodosis.
For instance--"

"It's laughing at me you are."

"It is not, but trying to educate you a little. For instance, I should
be putting a hypothetical case if I were to say, 'Supposing you cooked
the dinner I described every day for Mr. Doyle--'"

"I couldn't do it then, for I wouldn't be fit."

"That's exactly what makes it a supposititious case," said Meldon.
"Now perhaps you'll understand that I don't intend to poison Mr.
Simpkins myself."

"Nor the doctor won't do it for you," said Sabina.

"You said a minute ago that he would."

"He would not, for he's a nice gentleman, as simple and innocent as a
child, only an odd time when his temper would be riz."

"Any way he won't be asked to. Good-bye, Sabina. I'll look in and see
you next time I'm passing. Don't let that red-haired cousin of y