en now. I told myself
that, though he had expressly given me leave to invite Jimmy to the
breakfast, he had taken a fit of reticence in Jimmy's presence and
had shied off; that I should get more out of him when we were alone
together. . . . Is that good English, by the way? Can two persons be
alone? . . . Thank you, Polkinghorne--of course they can when they're
real friends.

But that speculation wouldn't work, either: for again at Prince's,
and again at Jack's invitation, we were to be a party of three. . . .
I tell you of these doubts because through them, and (you may say) by
way of them, it came to me--my first inkling that something was wrong
with the man.

Anyway, as it turned out, Jimmy and I might have spared ourselves the
discussion: for when we reached Prince's the head-waiter (an old
friend) brought me a letter. It had been delivered by District
Messenger almost two hours before. It ran--Here it is: I have all
the documents but one, and I've sent home for that.

"Dear Roddy,--Sorry to do a shirk: but circumstances oblige me to
take the boat-train, 9.45, ex Victoria. I have locked up the
flat. The porter has the keys, with instructions to lend to
nobody but you or the landlord.

"Address, for some little while, quite uncertain. I drew out a
fair sum in circular notes and cash; enough to keep me solvent
for some weeks. So you need not worry about the money.

"You needn't fash your consciences over the Plan, either.
I'll tell you about it in my next, written from the first place
when I find leisure. I'll unfold--no, the word insults its
beautiful simplicity. Apologies to Jimmy. Tell him to buy a
copy-book and write in it _Experiment is better than
Observation_.

"So long! A great peace has fallen on me, Roddy. 'I am one with
my kind,' like the convalescent gentleman in _Maud_. 'I embrace
the purpose of--whatever Higher Power set Farrell going--'and
the doom assigned.'

"Farrell is going strong. Yoicks!--Yours ever,"
"J.F."

I handed the letter across to Jimmy, and set myself to order,
thoughtfully, something to eat.

"Well, what do you say to it?" I asked as Jimmy finished his perusal.

"I say," pronounced Jimmy in unfaltering voice, "that the crisis
demands a gin-and-vermouth, at once, and that the vermouth should be
of the Italian variety."

"Wait