“No, no, it is not the insanity that I suffer from. Make your mind easy. It was

a foolish question that I put to you there, for, see you, my friend of whom I

spoke was a young man, a man who thought all women good, and most of them

beautiful. But you are a man of middle age, a doctor, a man who knows the folly

and the vanity of most things in this life of ours. Well, well, we are

neighbors. I beg of you to accept and present to your excellent sister my best

marrow.”

 

He stooped, and with a flourish produced an immense specimen of the tribe, which

I duly accepted in the spirit in which it was offered.

 

“Indeed,” said the little man cheerfully, “this has not been a wasted morning. I

have made the acquaintance of a man who in some ways resembles my far-off

friend. By the way, I should like to ask you a question. You doubtless know

every one in this tiny village. Who is the young man with the very dark hair and

eyes, and the handsome face. He walks with his head flung back, and an easy

smile on his lips?”

 

The description left me in no doubt.

 

“That must be Captain Ralph Paton,” I said slowly.

 

“I have not seen him about here before?”