ted something about the
propriety of my choosing the profession of a Bedouin, and, I suppose,
making a fortune by robbing caravans. But he told the misfortunes of
other people with a vengeance. The Mohammedans are going to turn the
Christians out of Asia and Africa everywhere."

"Good gracious, Harry! Why, papa's a director of the Great Transit
Bank, and all our money is in it, and it does all its business in the
East."

"By Jove! Let us hope the prophet _doesn't know_, then. But, upon my
word, he looked like seeing into futurity. At least, I could not make
out what else he was looking at."

"Poor man, he had a sunstroke when he was quite young in India, and has
led a queer life amongst savages ever since. But papa has come home and
been asking for you. You will find him in the drawing-room."

Harry thought his father thinner and older than when he had last seen
him, and asked how he was in a more earnest and meaning manner than is
customary in the conventional "How do you do?"

"Do I look altered?" asked Mr Forsyth, quickly.

"Oh, no, father, only a little pale; tired-looking, you know," said
Harry, rather hesitatingly, in spite of the effort made to speak
carelessly.

"I have not been quite the thing, and have seen a physician about it.
Only a little weakness about the heart, which affects the circulation.
But do not mention it to your mother or sister; women are so easily
frightened, and their serious faces would make me imagine myself
seriously ill. Well, how did you get on with your uncle? You see he
has turned me out of my private den."

"Is he at all--a little--that is, a trifle cracked, father?"

"A good deal, I should say. And yet he is a very clever man, and
sensible enough at times, and upon some subjects. He was most useful to
me out in Egypt on several occasions when we happened to meet. A great
traveller and a wonderful linguist."

"Was he badly treated by Government? He told me a story in the third
person, but I expect that he referred to himself all the time," said
Harry.

"Well," replied Mr Forsyth, "it is difficult to tell all the rights of
the story. Ever since he had an illness in India, as a very young man,
he has been subject to delusions. No doubt he behaved well on the
occasion of a certain shipwreck--if that is what you allude to--and
incurred heavy expense, which ought to have been made up to him. But I
doubt if he went the right way to work, and suspect that his