tly at the intimation, and, muttering something
inaudible, led the way into the drawing-room.

"You have been too hard upon him, doctor," whispered Karstairs, as he
walked along at Layton's side. "You should be more careful; he is a man
of note on the other side of the Channel; he was a Treasury Lord for
some six months once, and is always in office somewhere. I see you are
rather sorry for this yourself."

"Sorry! I 'm sorry to leave that glorious Madeira, which I know I shall
never taste again," said Lay ton, sternly.

"Are you a smoker, Dr. Layton?" said the host "If so, don't forget this
house gives all a bachelor's privileges. Try these cheroots."

"Liberty Hall!" chimed in the Colonel, with a vacant laugh.

"Not a bad name for your dining-room, Millar," said Ogden, bitterly.

A slight shrug was the parson's answer.

"Is this man a frequent guest here?" he asked again, in a low whisper.

"It is his first time. I need scarcely say, it shall be his last,"
replied Millar, as cautiously.

"I felt for you, Millar. I felt what pain he must have been giving
you, though, for myself, I pledge you my word it was most amusing; his
violence, his presumption, the dictatorial tone in which he affirmed his
opinions, were high comedy. I was half sorry when you proposed coffee."

Under pretence of admiring some curiously carved chessmen, Karstairs had
withdrawn the doctor into a small room adjoining; but, in reality,
his object was the friendly one of suggesting greater caution and more
reserve on his part.

"I don't say," whispered he,--"I don't say that you were n't right, and
he wrong in everything. I know nothing about false quantities in Latin,
or German metaphysics, or early Christian art You may be an authority
in all of them. All I say is, _he_ is a great Government official, and
_you_ are a village doctor."

"That was exactly why I couldn't let slip the opportunity," broke in
Layton. "Let me tell you an incident I once witnessed in my old days
of coach travelling. I was going up from Liverpool to London in the
'Umpire,' that wonderful fast coach that astonished the world by making
the journey in thirty-six hours. I sat behind the coachman, and was
struck by the appearance of the man on the box-seat, who, though it was
the depth of winter, and the day one of cutting sleet and cold wind,
wore no upper coat, or any protection against the weather. He was, as
you may imagine, speedily wet through, and presented in