It seemed strange, but the conversation took off his attention, and he thought no more of it till Daniel set down the decanter, when, picking up the little round roll that lay by his napkin, the captain threw it with so good an aim that he hit the solid servitor a smart crack on the back of the head. "Now, Captain Lawdor," said Miss Stonor, in tones of bland reproof, "have I not told you that if you will persist in doing that you must not dine with us?" "Hush! hush!" he whispered apologetically. "Don't scold me before the company. Poor fellow! I don't like to see a new patient upset. That fellow always passes me with the sherry." John Huish's countenance was so ludicrous at being taken for a new patient that the doctor exchanged glances with his sister, and it was all they could do to keep from bursting into a hearty fit of laughter. The doctor, however, suppressed his, and said quietly: "My sister is quite right, Lawdor, and you must get rid of that habit." The captain drew out his pocket-handkerchief, shed tears, wiped his eyes, and ended by taking out a half-crown, which he slipped into Daniel's hand as he removed his empty plate. John Huish felt a little disturbed as he saw the real state of affairs, but he tried to appear at his ease, and plunged into conversation with Miss Stonor, not, however, before he had directed an uneasy glance or two at his quiet, pensive companion across the table, who, however, was carrying on a discussion with the doctor. Huish could not help thinking of the knives as the captain turned to him with a pleasant smile lighting up his ruddy face, from which all trace of sorrow had now passed. "That's a nasty trick," he said; "but I never knew a man without some bad habit or another. I could hit him, though, with a biscuit at fifty paces." "Indeed," said Huish. "Yes, that I could. If I've hit Daniel once, I've done it a hundred times. But we were talking about yachting. Now, I've got a plan for a ship which I have submitted to the Admiralty." "Oh," said Huish to himself, "here, then, is the sore place." Then aloud, "Indeed!" "Yes; a splendid idea. But, by the way, you know how fond we sailors are of talking about pitching a biscuit?" "To be sure," said Huish. "Excuse me a few moments. A sailor always eats when he has a chance. May be called on deck at any moment. Would you oblige me?" said the captain suddenly to Huish. "I beg your pardon, certainly," said Huish; and, partly from habit, he placed his glass in his eye and brought it to bear on the speaker. "This is rather a good story--eh, doctor?" "Yes. Go on, Captain Lawdor." "Well, you see, I had been communicating with the Admiralty for six years about my invention when--would you oblige me by taking that glass out of your eye?" said the captain, breaking off short in his narrative. "It irritates me, and makes me feel as if I must throw something at it."