"I think that's a fair argument, doctor," said Pye. 

 "I am in both your debt," said I lightly. "For company and wine." 

 "I'm sure we shall owe you both many a time yet," said the third officer civilly. 

 At the table near us two men had sat and were talking even as we, but one had a half-penny paper, and turned the flimsy thing about, I fancy in search of racing news. 

 "You see there is no doubt about you——," began Pye amiably, and suddenly dropped his sentence. 

 In the unexpected silence I caught some words from the other table. 

 "Well, it's good pluck of him if he wants to marry her. What's the odds if he is a Prince? Live and let live, I say." 

 Pye's little squirrel head turned round and he stared for a moment at the speaker, then it came back again. 

 "You are uncommonly polite," said Holgate irritably. 

 "I'm sorry. I thought I recognised that voice," said the little man sweetly. "One gets echoes everywhere. I was going to say we took you for granted, doctor." 

 "It's good of you," said I. "But will Mr. Morland?" 

 "I can practically answer for my employer; I can't say anything about Mr. Morland, who has, however, authorised us to appoint." 

 "The yacht is from Hamburg?" said I. 

 "I believe so," said he. 

 "And its destination?" 

 "That knowledge is quite out of my province," said the squirrel briefly. 

 When one came to think of it, it was almost a snub, and I had never any patience for these legal silences. As he shut his jaws he looked a man who could keep a secret, and knew his own mind. Yet he had been so easily familiar that I flushed with resentment. Confound these little professional tricks and solemnities! We were meeting on another ground than lawyer and client. 

 "I dare say it will be within the cabin-boy's province to-morrow," said I, 

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