"I'll go at once," I said, as I turned to leave the room. "Wo'n't you come with me?"

"No, Sir!" said the Doctor, with a sudden effort——which proved an utter failure——to resume his professional manner. "Do I look like coming with you? Have you never heard that two is company, and——"

"Yes," I said, "I have heard it: and I'm painfully aware that I am Number Three! But, when shall we three meet again?"

"When the hurly-burly's done!" he answered with a happy laugh, such as I had not heard from him for many a year.