‘Well, so do I,’ muttered Peak.  ‘Do you know what?’ he added, abruptly.  ’I shall be off to the Pacific.  Yes, I shall go this next winter.  My mind is made up.’

’I shan’t try to dissuade you, old fellow, though I had rather have you in sight.  Come and see Malkin.  I’ll drop you a note with an appointment.’

‘Do.’

They soon reached the station, and exchanged but few more words before Earwaker’s leaving the train at Farringdon Street.  Peak pursued his journey towards the south-east of London.

On reaching home, the journalist flung aside his foolish coat of ceremony, indued a comfortable jacket, lit a pipe with long stem, and began to glance over an evening newspaper.  He had not long reposed in his arm-chair when the familiar appeal thundered from without.  Malkin once more shook his hand effusively.

’Had my journey to Fulham for nothing.  Didn’t matter; I ran over to Putney and looked up my old landlady.  The rooms are occupied by a married couple, but I think we shall succeed in persuading them to make way for me.  I promised to find them lodgings every bit as good in two days’ time.’

‘If that is so easy, why not take the new quarters yourself?’

’Why, to tell you the truth, I didn’t think of it!—­Oh, I had rather have the old crib; I can do as I like there, you know.  Confound it!  Now I shall have to spend all to-morrow lodging-hunting for other people.  Couldn’t I pay a man to do it?  Some confidential agent—­private police—­you know what I mean?’

‘A man of any delicacy,’ replied Earwaker, with grave countenance, ‘would feel bound by such a promise to personal exertion.’

’Right; quite right!  I didn’t mean it; of course I shall hunt conscientiously.  Oh, I say; I have brought over a couple of armadilloes.  Would you like one?’

‘Stuffed, do you mean?’

’Pooh!  Alive, man, alive!  They only need a little care.  I should think you might keep the creature in your kitchen; they become quite affectionate.’

The offer was unhesitatingly declined, and Malkin looked hurt.  There needed a good deal of genial explanation before Earwaker could restore him to his sprightly mood.

‘Where have you been dining?’ cried the traveller.  ’Moxey’s—­ah, I remember.  But who is Moxey?  A new acquaintance, eh?’

’Yes; I have known him about six months.  Got to know him through Peak.’

’Peak?  Peak?  What, the fellow you once told me about—­who disappeared from Whitelaw because of his uncle, the cat’s-meat man?’

‘The man’s-meat man, rather.’

’Yes, yes—­the eating-house; I remember.  You have met him again?  Why on earth didn’t you tell me in your letters?  What became of him?  Tell me the story.’

’Certainly, if you will cease to shake down plaster from the ceiling.—­We met in a restaurant (appropriate scene), happening to sit at the same table.  Whilst eating, we stared at each other fitfully.  “I’ll be hanged if that isn’t Peak,” I kept saying to myself.  And at the same moment we opened our lips to question each other.’