"No trouble, no trouble at all. I am at your service, doctor. Anything I could have done, or can do now, to oblige, you may safely reckon upon. Within limits, you know, within limits." "Of course, but the necessity is obviated. I intended to ask you to lend me a small sum of money--without security, Mr. Moss." "I guessed as much. You should have had it, doctor, and no inquiries made, though it isn't the way I usually conduct my business; but there are men you can trust and are inclined to trust, and there are men you wouldn't trust without binding them down hard and fast. If you still need the money don't be afraid to ask." "I should not be afraid, but I am in funds. I am not the less indebted to you, Mr. Moss." "All right. Now for another affair--_my_ affair I suppose I must call it till I have shifted it to other shoulders, which will soon be done. Dr. Spenlove, that was a strange adventure last night." "It was. A strange and sad adventure. You behaved very kindly, and I should like to repay what you expended on behalf of the poor lady." "No, no, doctor, let it rest where it is. I don't acknowledge your right to repay what you don't owe, and perhaps I am none the worse off for what I did. Throw your bread on the waters, you know. My present visit has reference to the lady--as you call her one I will do the same--we picked out of the snow last night. Did you ever notice that things go in runs?" "I don't quite follow you." "A run of rainy weather, a run of fine weather, a run of good fortune, a run of ill fortune." "I understand." "You meet a person to-day whom you have never seen or heard of before. The odds are that you will meet that person to-morrow, and probably the next day as well. You begin to have bad cards, you go on having bad cards; you begin to make money, you go on making money." "You infer that there are seasons of circumstances, as of weather. No doubt you are right." "I know I am right. Making the acquaintance of your friend Mrs. Turner last night in a very extraordinary manner, I am not at all surprised that I have business in hand in which she is concerned. You look astonished, but it is true. You gave her a good character, doctor." "Which she deserves. It happens in life to the best of us that we cannot avert misfortune. It is a visitor that does not knock at the door; it enters unannounced." "We have unlocked the door ourselves, perhaps," suggested Mr. Moss sagely. "It happens sometimes in a moment of trustfulness, deceived by specious professions. The weak and confiding become the victims." "It is the way of the world, doctor. Hawks and pigeons, you know." "There are some who are neither," said Dr. Spenlove, who was not disposed to hurry his visitor. His mind was easy as to his departure from Portsmouth, and he divined from the course the conversation was taking that Mr. Moss had news of a special nature to communicate. He deemed it wisest to allow him to break it in his own way.