an," she said, "your friend would like to see you. He
feels quite bad."

"Plague take it!" said Bowman pettishly. "I can do him no good, but I
suppose I shall have to go."

"Is it your partner?" asked Fred.

"Yes."

"If you don't mind I will walk over with you."

"Glad of your company. Claudine, tell Mr. Sinclair that I will be with
him directly."

"_Oui, monsieur,_" and the little girl vanished.

"I wish Sinclair would get well or something," grumbled Bowman, as they
walked to the lower end of the main street of the village. "It's hard
luck for me to be tied to a sick man."

"Still he has the worst of it," suggested Fred, who was not altogether
pleased with the cold selfishness of his companion.

"Yes, I suppose so; but it isn't right that I should suffer for his
misfortune."

"Do you employ a doctor?"

"Yes; I called in a doctor once--a Frenchman--Dr. St. Hilaire. He left
some medicines, and Sinclair takes them."

"He doesn't seem to get better, then?"

"At any rate he is very slow about it," said Bowman, who spoke as if
his unfortunate friend were in fault.

At last they reached the cottage. It was very small, containing three
rooms and an attic. Bowman opened the door, and entered what might
perhaps be designated as the sitting-room, though it contained a bed,
on which, propped up by pillows, lay James Sinclair.

"What's amiss with you, Sinclair?" grumbled Bowman.

"Everything is amiss. You have left me alone all day."

"What good could I do you if I were here? It would only mope me to
death."

"I have had nothing to eat since morning, except a boiled egg."

"Why not? Couldn't you send Claudine after food?"

"Of what use would that be, when I had no money to give her? I warrant
you have had your regular meals."

"I took my meals at the hotel--it was more convenient."

"I warrant me you took care to provide for yourself. At least give me
some money so that I may not quite starve."

"Money, money, all the time! Do you know, Sinclair, our stock is
running very low?"

"I demand my share of it as long as it lasts. You take advantage of my
helplessness----"

"There's a dollar! Mind you make it last as long as possible," said
Bowman. "It will be well to put off your complaints till another time,
for I have brought company."

He signaled to Fred, who had remained outside, to enter, and the boy
did so. He regarded the sick man with interest and sympathy, not alone
because he seemed in sorr