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'He is older； though； years older。 But；' with a slap upon
the table； 'it's the rum you see in my face … rum and sin。
This man； perhaps； may have an easy conscience and a good
digestion。 Conscience！ Hear me speak。 You would think I
was some good； old； decent Christian； would you not？ But no；
not I； I never canted。 Voltaire might have canted if he'd
stood in my shoes； but the brains' … with a rattling fillip
on his bald head … 'the brains were clear and active； and I
saw and made no deductions。'
'If you know this doctor；' I ventured to remark； after a
somewhat awful pause； 'I should gather that you do not share
the landlord's good opinion。'
Fettes paid no regard to me。
'Yes；' he said； with sudden decision； 'I must see him face to
face。'
There was another pause； and then a door was closed rather
sharply on the first floor； and a step was heard upon the
stair。
'That's the doctor；' cried the landlord。 'Look sharp； and
you can catch him。'
It was but two steps from the small parlour to the door of
the old George Inn； the wide oak staircase landed almost in
the street； there was room for a Turkey rug and nothing more
between the threshold and the last round of the descent； but
this little space was every evening brilliantly lit up； not
only by the light upon the stair and the great signal…lamp
below the sign； but by the warm radiance of the bar…room
window。 The George thus brightly advertised itself to
passers…by in the cold street。 Fettes walked steadily to the
spot； and we； who were hanging behind； beheld the two men
meet； as one of them had phrased it； face to face。 Dr。
Macfarlane was alert and vigorous。 His white hair set off
his pale and placid； although energetic； countenance。 He was
richly dressed in the finest of broadcloth and the whitest of
linen； with a great gold watch…chain； and studs and
spectacles of the same precious material。 He wore a broad…
folded tie； white and speckled with lilac； and he carried on
his arm a comfortable driving…coat of fur。 There was no
doubt but he became his years； breathing； as he did； of
wealth and consideration； and it was a surprising contrast to
see our parlour sot … bald； dirty； pimpled； and robed in his
old camlet cloak … confront him at the bottom of the stairs。
'Macfarlane！' he said somewhat loudly； more like a herald
than a friend。
The great doctor pulled up short on the fourth step； as
though the familiarity of the address surprised and somewhat
shocked his dignity。
'Toddy Macfarlane！' repeated Fettes。
The London man almost staggered。 He stared for the swiftest
of seconds at the man before him； glanced behind him with a
sort of scare； and then in a startled whisper； 'Fettes！' he
said； 'You！'
'Ay；' said the other； 'me！ Did you think I was dead too？ We
are not so easy shut of our acquaintance。'
'Hush； hush！' exclaimed the doctor。 'Hush； hush！ this
meeting is so unexpected … I can see you are unmanned。 I
hardly knew you； I confess； at first； but I am overjoyed …
overjoyed to have this opportunity。 For the present it must
be how…d'ye…do and good…bye in one； for my fly is waiting；
and I must not fail the train； but you shall … let me see …
yes … you shall give me your address； and you can count on
early news of me。 We must do something for you； Fettes。 I
fear you are out at elbows； but we must see to that for auld
lang syne； as once we sang at suppers。'
'Money！' cried Fettes； 'money from you！ The money that I had
from you is lying where I cast it in the rain。'
Dr。 Macfarlane had talked himself into some measure of
superiority and confidence； but the uncommon energy of this
refusal cast him back into his first confusion。
A horrible； ugly look came and went across his almost
venerable countenance。 'My dear fellow；' he said； 'be it as
you please； my last thought is to offend you。 I would
intrude on none。 I will leave you my address； however … '
'I do not wish it … I do not wish to know the roof that
shelters you；' interrupted the other。 'I heard your name； I
feared it might be you； I wished to know if； after all； there
were a God； I know now that there is none。 Begone！'
He still stood in the middle of the rug； between the stair
and doorway； and the great London physician； in order to
escape； would be forced to step to one side。 It was plain
that he hesitated before the thought of this humiliation。
White as he was； there was a dangerous glitter in his
spectacles； but while he still paused uncertain； he became
aware that the driver of his fly was peering in from the
street at this unusual scene and caught a glimpse at the same
time of our little body from the parlour； huddled by the
corner of the bar。 The presence of so many witnesses decided
him at once to flee。 He crouched together； brushing on the
wainscot； and made a dart like a serpent； striking for the
door。 But his tribulation was not yet entirely at an end；
for even as he was passing Fettes clutched him by the arm and
these words came in a whisper； and yet painfully distinct；
'Have you seen it again？'
The great rich London doctor cried out aloud with a sharp；
throttling cry； he dashed his questioner across the open
space； and； with his hands over his head； fled out of the
door like a detected thief。 Before it had occurred to one of
us to make a movement the fly was already rattling toward the
station。 The scene was over like a dream； but the dream had
left proofs and traces of its passage。 Next day the servant
found the fine gold spectacles broken on the threshold； and
that very night we were all standing breathless by the bar…
room window； and Fettes at our side； sober； pale； and
resolute in look。
'God protect us； Mr。 Fettes！' said the landlord； coming first
into possession of his customary senses。 'What in the
universe is all this？ These are strange things you have been
saying。'
Fettes turned toward us； he looked us each in succession in
the face。 'See if you can hold your tongues；' said he。
'That man Macfarlane is not safe to cross； those that have
done so already have repented it too late。'
And then； without so much as finishing his third glass； far
less waiting for the other two； he bade us good…bye and went
forth； under the lamp of the hotel； into the black night。
We three turned to our places in the parlour； with the big
red fire and four clear candles； and as we recapitulated what
had passed； the first chill of our surprise soon changed into
a glow of curiosity。 We sat late； it was the latest session
I have known in the old George。 Each man； before we parted；
had his theory that he was bound to prove； and none of us had
any nearer business in this world than to track out the past
of our condemned companion； and surprise the secret that he
shared with the great London doctor。 It is no great boast；
but I believe I was a better hand at worming out a story than
either of my fellows at the George； and perhaps there is now
no other man alive who could narrate to you the following
foul and unnatural events。
In his young days Fettes studied medicine in the schools of
Edinburgh。 He had talent of a kind； the talent that picks up
swiftly what it hears and readily retails it for its own。 He
worked little at home； but he was civil； attentive； and
intelligent in the presence of his masters。 They soon picked
him out as a lad who listened closely and remembered well；
nay； strange as it seemed to me when I first heard it； he was
in those days well favoured； and pleased by his exterior。
There was； at that period； a certain extramural teacher of
anatomy； whom I shall here designate by the letter K。 His
name was subsequently too well known。 The man who bore it
skulked through the streets of Edinburgh in disguise； while
the mob that applauded at the execution of Burke called
loudly for the blood of hi