Page:Henry Northcote (IA henrynorthcote00snairich).pdf/63

 himself in his bed, and again there was that odd look in his eyes.

"'I'll tell you who you can get,' said he; 'he's come to me in a flash. Get that fellow Northcote.'

"'Northcote?' said I; 'never heard of him.'

"'Never mind, get him,' said the wild Irishman. 'He's young, and they say he's mad, but he might bring us luck.'

"'For a chap with as brilliant a set of brains as are to be found in London,' said I, 'you do come out with some of the oddest suggestions. How did you come to think of this fellow Northcote, when you won't allow Harris and Westby to be good enough?"

"'Oh,' said he, 'he's one of my inspirations,'

"'Inspiration my foot!' said I. 'I'm off to Christopher Harris.'

"Well, as I was about to go, poor Tobin raised himself again, and those queer eyes came at me in a way I don't like.

"'Look here, Whitcomb,' he said; 'you were a pal to me when I had hardly a boot to my foot, but if you go to Harris I'll never speak to you again.'

"'Lie down, you damned Celt, and go to sleep,' I said, 'and I'll come and talk to you another day.'

"'I won't lie down until you promise to go to Northcote at No. 3 Shepherd's Inn.'

"'King's Bench Walk,' I assured him, 'will be far better. If I can't have a reckless fellow like you, I mean to play for safety.'

"'All the safety in the world,' said he, 'won't save the poor beggar's neck.'

"'That's all very well,' said I, 'but an inexperi