heard Mr Trevor make a sort of hiccoughing noise in his throat, and, jumping out of his chair, he ran into the house. He was back in a moment, and I smelt a strong reek of brandy as he passed me.

‘ “Well, my man,” said he, “what can I do for you?”

‘The sailor stood looking at him with puckered eyes, and with the same loose-lipped smile upon his face.

‘ “You don’t know me?” he asked.

‘ “Why, dear me, it is surely Hudson!” said Mr Trevor, in a tone of surprise.

‘ “Hudson it is, sir,” said the seaman. “Why, it’s thirty year and more since I saw you last. Here you are in your house, and me still picking my salt meat out of the harness cask.”

‘ “Tut, you will find that I have not forgotten old times,” cried Mr Trevor, and, walking towards the sailor, he said something in a low voice. “Go into the kitchen,” he continued out loud, “and you will get food and drink. I have no doubt that I shall find you a situation.”

‘ “Thank you, sir,” said the seaman, touching his forelock. “I’m just off a two-yearer in an eight-knot tramp, short-handed at that, and I wants a rest. I thought I’d get it either with Mr Beddoes or with you.”

‘ “Ah!” cried Mr Trevor, “you know where Mr Beddoes is?”

‘ “Bless you, sir, I know where all my old friends are,” said the fellow, with a sinister smile, and slouched off after the maid to the kitchen. Mr Trevor mumbled something to us about having been shipmates with the man when he was going back to the diggings, and then, leaving us on the lawn, he went indoors. An hour later, when we entered the house we found him stretched dead drunk upon the dining-room sofa. The whole incident left a most ugly impression upon my mind, and I was not sorry next day to leave Donnithorpe behind me, for I felt that my presence must be a source of embarrassment to my friend.

‘All this occurred during the first month of the long vacation. I went up to my London rooms, where I spent seven weeks working out a few experiments in organic chemistry. One day, however, when the autumn was far advanced and the vacation drawing to a close, I received a telegram from my friend imploring me to return to Donnithorpe, and saying that he was in great need of my advice and assistance. Of course I dropped everything and set out for the north once more.

‘He met me with the dog-cart at the station, and I saw at a glance that the last two months had been very trying ones for him. He had grown thin and careworn, and had lost the loud, cheery manner for which he had been remarkable.

‘ “The governor is dying,” were the first words he said.

‘ “Impossible!” I cried. “What is the matter?”

‘ “Apoplexy. Nervous shock. He’s been on the verge all day. I doubt if we shall find him alive.”

‘I was, as you may think, Watson, horrified at this unexpected news.

‘ “What has caused it?” I asked.

‘ “Ah, that is the point. Jump in, and we can talk it over while we drive. You remember that fellow who came upon the evening before you left us?”

‘ “Perfectly.”