Mr. Morland, and he put out a hand mechanically. "You will arrange it," he said to the other, with an air of command. 

 "Most certainly, sir, but I thought you would like to see, being on the spot——" 

 "No, there is only one thing. You know anything of throats?" he asked suddenly. 

 I told him I had studied under a specialist at the hospital, as it happened. In these days we doctors are compelled to take special courses in order to keep march with the times. 

 "That is right," he said, nodding, and the smile that came upon his face turned the eyes bluer. He looked quite handsome. "We must all keep step with the times. I will look to you to arrange it," he added again to the lawyer, and seemed to wait for my dismissal. The solicitor bowed me sharply from the room, for was not his millionaire client in waiting? And I went down the stairs. 

 It was now past four, and as I came out into the Square I saw before me the little lawyer's clerk who had entered the room and had been called Pye. He was talking amiably to another man, and as I passed smiled at me through his pince-nez. 

 "You saw Mr. Morland?" he asked in a friendly way. 

 "Yes," I said, and looked at the stranger. There seemed no necessity to say more. 

 "It is odd that you should encounter here, gentlemen," said Pye, adjusting his glasses, "and yet I suppose it isn't. Mr. Holgate, this gentleman is the future doctor of the Sea Queen." 

 "Oh, dear me, it isn't settled," said I, with a laugh. 

 Pye beamed at me. "I think I know my chief's face," he said. "It's my business to interpret him, particularly when he can't interpret himself." 

 The other man laughed lazily. He was a man with a big body, and a face round and gross in proportion, heavy-lidded eyes, and an imperturbable expression. 

 "This is Mr. Holgate, the third officer," said Pye, by way of introduction, and somehow or other we began to walk in the direction of Holborn. When we had threaded the Great Turnstile the little clerk hesitated and swung round. "I was going to drink a glass of wine with Mr. Holgate. Perhaps you would join us, sir?" 

 "Gladly," said I, for I had made up my mind to take tea before 

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