On the evening of his arrival at Buyukderer for the summer holidays Jimmy had a confidential talk with his mother about “Mr. Leith,” whom he had not yet seen, but about whom he had been making many anxious inquiries.

“I’ll tell you to-night,” his mother had replied.  And after dinner she fulfilled her promise.

“You’ll see Mr. Leith to-morrow,” she said.

“Well, I should rather think so!” returned Jimmy, in an injured voice.  “Where is he?”

“He’s living in rooms in the house of a Greek not far from here.”

“I thought he was in the hotel.  I say, mater, can’t I have a cigarette just for once?”

“Yes, you may, just for once.”

Jimmy approached the cigarette box with the air of a nonchalant conqueror.  As he opened it with an apparently practised forefinger he remarked: 

“Well, mater?”

“He’s left the hotel.  You know, Jimmy, Mr. Leith has had great misfortunes.”

Jimmy had heard of the gun accident and its terrible result, and he now looked very grave.

“I know—­poor chap!” he observed.  “But it wasn’t his fault.  It was the little brute of a pony.  Every one knows that.  It was rotten bad luck, but who would be down on a fellow for bad luck?”

“Exactly.  But it’s changed Mr. Leith’s life.  His wife has left him.  He’s given up his business, and is, consequently, less well off than he was.  But this isn’t all.”

Jimmy tenderly struck a match, lighted a cigarette, and, with half-closed eyes, blew forth in a professional manner a delicate cloud of smoke.  He was feeling good all over.

“First-rate cigarettes!” he remarked.  “The very best!  Yes, mater?”

“He’s rather badly broken up.”

“No wonder!” said Jimmy, with discrimination.

“You’ll find him a good deal changed.  Sometimes he’s moody and even bad-tempered, poor fellow, and he’s fearfully sensitive.  I’m trying my best to buck him up.”

“Good for you, mater!  He’s our friend.  We’re bound to stand by him.”

“And that’s exactly what I’m trying to do.  When he’s a little difficult, doesn’t take things quite as one means them—­you know?”

“Rather!  Do I?”

“I put it down to all the trouble he’s been through.  I never resent it.  Now I ought really to have got out a holiday tutor for you.”

“Oh, I say, after I’ve swotted my head off all these months!  A chap needs some rest if he’s to do himself justice, hang it, mater, now!”

“I know all about that!”

She looked at him shrewdly, and he smiled on one side of his mouth.

“Go on, mater!”

“But having Mr. Leith here I thought I wouldn’t do that.  Mr. Leith’s awfully fond of boys, and it seemed to me you might do him more good than any one else could.”

“Well, I’m blowed!  D’you really think so?”

Jimmy came over and sat on the arm of her chair, blowing rings of smoke cleverly over her lovely little head.