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future； whether it was possible he had not been perfectly
wise in his treatment of John； whether it was possible that
John was innocent； whether； if he turned John out a second
time； as his outraged authority suggested； it was possible to
avoid a scandal； and whether； if he went to that extremity；
it was possible that Alexander might rebel。
'Hum！' said Mr。 Nicholson； and put his hand； limp and dead；
into John's。
And then； in an embarrassed silence； all took their places；
and even the paper … from which it was the old gentleman's
habit to suck mortification daily； as he marked the decline
of our institutions … even the paper lay furled by his side。
But presently Flora came to the rescue。 She slid into the
silence with a technicality； asking if John still took his
old inordinate amount of sugar。 Thence it was but a step to
the burning question of the day； and in tones a little
shaken； she commented on the interval since she had last made
tea for the prodigal； and congratulated him on his return。
And then addressing Mr。 Nicholson； she congratulated him also
in a manner that defied his ill…humour； and from that
launched into the tale of John's misadventures； not without
some suitable suppressions。
Gradually Alexander joined； between them； whether he would or
no； they forced a word or two from John； and these fell so
tremulously； and spoke so eloquently of a mind oppressed with
dread； that Mr。 Nicholson relented。 At length even he
contributed a question： and before the meal was at an end all
four were talking even freely。
Prayers followed； with the servants gaping at this new…comer
whom no one had admitted； and after prayers there came that
moment on the clock which was the signal for Mr。 Nicholson's
departure。
'John；' said he； 'of course you will stay here。 Be very
careful not to excite Maria； if Miss Mackenzie thinks it
desirable that you should see her。 Alexander； I wish to
speak with you alone。' And then； when they were both in the
back room： 'You need not come to the office to…day；' said he；
'you can stay and amuse your brother； and I think it would be
respectful to call on Uncle Greig。 And by the bye' （this
spoken with a certain… dare we say？ … bashfulness）； 'I agree
to concede the principle of an allowance； and I will consult
with Doctor Durie； who is quite a man of the world and has
sons of his own； as to the amount。 And； my fine fellow； you
may consider yourself in luck！' he added； with a smile。
'Thank you；' said Alexander。
Before noon a detective had restored to John his money； and
brought news； sad enough in truth； but perhaps the least sad
possible。 Alan had been found in his own house in Regent
Terrace； under care of the terrified butler。 He was quite
mad； and instead of going to prison； had gone to Morningside
Asylum。 The murdered man； it appeared； was an evicted tenant
who had for nearly a year pursued his late landlord with
threats and insults； and beyond this； the cause and details
of the tragedy were lost。
When Mr。 Nicholson returned from dinner they were able to put
a despatch into his hands： 'John V。 Nicholson； Randolph
Crescent； Edinburgh。 … Kirkham has disappeared； police
looking for him。 All understood。 Keep mind quite easy。 …
Austin。' Having had this explained to him； the old gentleman
took down the cellar key and departed for two bottles of the
1820 port。 Uncle Greig dined there that day； and Cousin
Robina； and； by an odd chance； Mr。 Macewen； and the presence
of these strangers relieved what might have been otherwise a
somewhat strained relation。 Ere they departed； the family
was welded once more into a fair semblance of unity。
In the end of April John led Flora … or； as more descriptive；
Flora led John … to the altar； if altar that may be called
which was indeed the drawing…room mantel…piece in Mr。
Nicholson's house； with the Reverend Dr。 Durie posted on the
hearthrug in the guise of Hymen's priest。
The last I saw of them； on a recent visit to the north； was
at a dinner…party in the house of my old friend Gellatly
Macbride； and after we had； in classic phrase； 'rejoined the
ladies；' I had an opportunity to overhear Flora conversing
with another married woman on the much canvassed matter of a
husband's tobacco。
'Oh yes！' said she； 'I only allow Mr。 Nicholson four cigars a
day。 Three he smokes at fixed times … after a meal； you
know； my dear； and the fourth he can take when he likes with
any friend。'
'Bravo！' thought I to myself； 'this is the wife for my friend
John！'
THE BODY…SNATCHER
EVERY night in the year； four of us sat in the small parlour
of the George at Debenham … the undertaker； and the landlord；
and Fettes； and myself。 Sometimes there would be more； but
blow high； blow low； come rain or snow or frost； we four
would be each planted in his own particular arm…chair。
Fettes was an old drunken Scotchman； a man of education
obviously； and a man of some property； since he lived in
idleness。 He had come to Debenham years ago； while still
young； and by a mere continuance of living had grown to be an
adopted townsman。 His blue camlet cloak was a local
antiquity； like the church…spire。 His place in the parlour
at the George； his absence from church； his old； crapulous；
disreputable vices； were all things of course in Debenham。
He had some vague Radical opinions and some fleeting
infidelities； which he would now and again set forth and
emphasise with tottering slaps upon the table。 He drank rum
… five glasses regularly every evening； and for the greater
portion of his nightly visit to the George sat； with his
glass in his right hand； in a state of melancholy alcoholic
saturation。 We called him the Doctor； for he was supposed to
have some special knowledge of medicine； and had been known；
upon a pinch； to set a fracture or reduce a dislocation； but
beyond these slight particulars； we had no knowledge of his
character and antecedents。
One dark winter night … it had struck nine some time before
the landlord joined us … there was a sick man in the George；
a great neighbouring proprietor suddenly struck down with
apoplexy on his way to Parliament； and the great man's still
greater London doctor had been telegraphed to his bedside。
It was the first time that such a thing had happened in
Debenham； for the railway was but newly open； and we were all
proportionately moved by the occurrence。
'He's come；' said the landlord； after he had filled and
lighted his pipe。
'He？' said I。 'Who？ … not the doctor？'
'Himself；' replied our host。
'What is his name？'
'Doctor Macfarlane；' said the landlord。
Fettes was far through his third tumbler； stupidly fuddled；
now nodding over； now staring mazily around him； but at the
last word he seemed to awaken； and repeated the name
'Macfarlane' twice； quietly enough the first time； but with
sudden emotion at the second。
'Yes；' said the landlord； 'that's his name； Doctor Wolfe
Macfarlane。'
Fettes became instantly sober； his eyes awoke； his voice
became clear； loud； and steady； his language forcible and
earnest。 We were all startled by the transformation； as if a
man had risen from the dead。
'I beg your pardon；' he said； 'I am afraid I have not been
paying much attention to your talk。 Who is this Wolfe
Macfarlane？' And then； when he had heard the landlord out；
'It cannot be； it cannot be；' he added； 'and yet I would like
well to see him face to face。'
'Do you know him； Doctor？' asked the undertaker； with a gasp。
'God forbid！' was the reply。 'And yet the name is a strange
one； it were too much to fancy two。 Tell me； landlord； is he
old？'
'Well；' said the host； 'he's not a young man； to be sure； and
his hair is white； but he looks younger than you。'
'He is older； though； years older。 But；' with a slap upon
the table