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288 the morning-room to wait until his visitor departed.

He emerged soon, a thin, pale-faced, rather round-shouldered man of forty-five, wearing gold pince-nez. I was careful he should not see me, though I got a good glance at his face, both as he crossed the hall and again as he passed the window on his way out.

Instantly I came forth from the room, and meeting Farnell, said:

"I heard you were engaged, so thought I'd wait."

"Yes, doctor, come in," he snapped, and led the way back to his den. He was quite unlike his usual self, and treated me with considerable abruptness.

We were seated together with the door closed when I suddenly looked him straight in the face, and said:

"You are not quite yourself this morning, Mr. Farnell. This excitement is not good for you."

"Excitement! What do you mean?"

"Well, the excitement of having such a visitor," I replied meaningly and rather slowly.

He started up, staring at me in blank astonishment.

"What do you mean, d'Escombe? What—what do you know?"