But this brisk young man, with an atmosphere about him of always being ten minutes ahead of time, already had one of his very muddy boots inside the door, and eagerly awaited the answer to his question; so it was useless to reply to the latter in German, and to bang the former.

Therefore:  “I have that honour,” replied Aubrey, with the best grace he could muster.

“Ah!  Well, I’m sorry to bother you so late, but I must have a word with you; and then I am going round to spend the night with Ronnie at his hotel.”

“Come in,” said Aubrey, in a low voice; “but we must not talk in the passage or we shall wake him.  I saw he was not fit to be alone, so I sent to the hotel for his traps, and am putting him up here.  He turned in, half an hour ago, and seemed really inclined to sleep.  He was almost off, when I left him.”

Aubrey, closing the door, led the way to his sitting-room, where the three easy chairs were still drawn up before the stove.

“I conclude you are Dr. Cameron,” said Aubrey, turning up the light, and motioning his visitor to the chair which had lately been Ronnie’s.

“Yes, I am Dick Cameron, Ronnie’s particular chum; and if ever he needed a particular chum, poor old chap, he does so at this moment.  But I am glad he has found a friend in you, and one really able to undertake him.  You did right not to leave him at the hotel; and he must not travel back to England alone.”

“I have already arranged to accompany him,” said Aubrey Treherne.

“Good; it will save me a journey.”

Dick pulled off his ulster, threw it across the red velvet sofa, flung his cap after it, and took the proffered chair.

In his blue serge suit and gay tie, he looked like the captain of a college football team.

Aubrey, eyeing him with considerable reserve and distaste, silently took up his position in the chair opposite.  He felt many years older than this peremptory young man, who appeared to consider himself master of all situations.

Dick turned his bright eyes on to the empty chair between them.

“So Ronnie has spent the evening with you?”

“He has.”

“Who was the third party?”

“The third party was the Infant of Prague.”

“Oh, bother that rotten Infant!” exclaimed Dr. Dick.  “I came near to putting my foot through its shining tummy this morning!  Still it may serve its silly use, if it takes his mind off his book, until we can get him safely home.  I suppose you know, sir, that Ronald West is about as ill as a man can be?  It will be touch and go whether we can get him home before the crash comes.”

“I thought he seemed excited and unwell,” said Aubrey.  “What do you consider is the cause of his condition?”