fear you are out at elbows; but we must see to that for auld

lang syne, as once we sang at suppers.'

'Money!' cried Fettes; 'money from you! The money that I had

from you is lying where I cast it in the rain.'

Dr. Macfarlane had talked himself into some measure of

superiority and confidence, but the uncommon energy of this

refusal cast him back into his first confusion.

A horrible, ugly look came and went across his almost

venerable countenance. 'My dear fellow,' he said, 'be it as

you please; my last thought is to offend you. I would

intrude on none. I will leave you my address, however - '

'I do not wish it - I do not wish to know the roof that

shelters you,' interrupted the other. 'I heard your name; I

feared it might be you; I wished to know if, after all, there

were a God; I know now that there is none. Begone!'

He still stood in the middle of the rug, between the stair

and doorway; and the great London physician, in order to

escape, would be forced to step to one side. It was plain

that he hesitated before the thought of this humiliation.

White as he was, there was a dangerous glitter in his

spectacles; but while he still paused uncertain, he became

117

Tales and Fantasies