“The deuce you did!” said Nick.  He turned slightly to send a shifting glance over his brother.  “That was very officious of you, Jimmy,” he remarked.

“Very likely,” conceded the doctor.  “I have to be officious occasionally.  And if you think that I mean to let you out of my sight in your present state of health, you make a big mistake.  No, lie still, I tell you!  You’re like a monkey on wires.  Lie still!  Do you hear me, Nick?”

Nick’s feet were already on the ground, but he did not rise.  He sat motionless, as if weighing some matter in his mind.

“I can’t stay with you, Jimmy,” he said at last.  “I’ll spend to-night of course with all the pleasure in the world.  But I’m going back to Redlands to-morrow.  I have a fancy for sleeping in my own crib just now.  Come over and see me as often as you feel inclined, the oftener the better.  And if you care to bring your science to bear upon all that is left of this infernally troublesome member of mine, I shall be charmed to let you.  You may vivisect me to your heart’s content.  But don’t ask me to be an in-patient, for it can’t be done.  There are reasons.”

Jim frowned at him.  “Do you know what will happen if you don’t take care of yourself?” he said brusquely.  “You’ll die.”

Nick burst into a laugh, and lay back on the cushions.  “I was driven out of India by that threat,” he said.  “It’s getting a bit stale.  You needn’t be afraid.  I’m not going to die at present.  I’ll take reasonable precautions to prevent it.  But I won’t stay here, that’s flat.  I tell you, man, I can’t.”

He glanced again at Jim, and, finding the latter closely watching him, abruptly shut his eyes.

“I’m going to open Redlands,” he said, “and I will have Olga to come and keep house for me.  It’ll be good practice for her.  I’ll take her back with me to-morrow, if you have no objection.”

“Fine mischief you’ll get up to, the pair of you,” grumbled Jim.

“Very likely,” said Nick cheerily.  “But we shan’t come to any harm, either of us.  To begin with, I shall make her wait on me, hand and foot.  She’ll like that, and so shall I.”

“Yes, you’ll spoil her thoroughly.” said Jim.  “And I shall have the pleasure of breaking her in afterwards.”

Nick laughed again.  “What an old tyrant you are!  But you needn’t be afraid of that.  I’ll make her do as she’s told.  I’m particularly good at that.  Ask Muriel Roscoe.”

Jim’s frown deepened.  “You know of that girl’s engagement to Grange, I suppose?”

Nick did not trouble to open his eyes.  “Oh, rather!  She took care that I should.  I gave her my blessing.”

“Well, I don’t like it,” said Jim plainly.

“What’s the matter with him?” questioned Nick.

“Nothing that I know of.  But she isn’t in love with him.”

Nick’s eyelids parted a little, showing a glint between.  “You funny old ass!” he murmured affectionately.