"You insufferable cad!" cried Leigh, furiously. "Yes, that's it. Quite right--cad; that's what I am, but I'm trying to polish it off, Doctor. I say, tell me how she is. She was so bad." "My sister has quite recovered." "Hooray!" cried Claud, excitedly. "But, I say--the ankle. How is it?" "Look here, my good fellow, you must go. I will not answer your questions. Are you mad or an idiot?" "Both," said Claud, coolly. "I say, you know, about that ankle. I believe you were so savage that night that you kicked it and broke it." "What!" cried Leigh, excitedly. "My good fellow, what do you take me for?" "Her brother, with an awful temper. Her father would not treat me like you do, if he was alive. It was a cowardly, cruel act for a man to do." "You are quite mistaken, sir," said Leigh, coldly, as he wondered to himself that he should be drawn out like this. "My sister was unfortunate enough to sprain her ankle." "Glad of it," said Claud, bluntly. "I was afraid it was your doing, and whenever I see you it sets my monkey up and makes me want to kick you. Well, you've told me how she is, and that's some pay for all my hunting about in town. I say, there's another chap down at Northwood stepped into your shoes already. The mater has had him in for the guv'nor's gout. He caught a cold up here with the hunting for Kate. It turned to gout, and I've had all the hunting to do. Now you and I will join hands and run her down." Leigh made an angry gesture, which was easy enough to interpret--"How am I to get rid of this insolent cad?" Claud laughed. "You can't do it," he said. "I say, Doctor, sink the pride, and all that sort of thing. It's of no use to refuse help from a fellow you don't like, if he's in earnest and means well. Now, just look here. 'Pon my soul, it's the truth. Kate Wilton has got a hundred and fifty thou., and your sister hasn't got a penny. I'm not such a fool as you think, for I can read you like a book. You were gone on Cousin Kate long before you were asked to our house, and you'd give your life to find her; and, mind, I don't believe it's for the sake of her money. Well, I'm doing all I can to find her, and have been ever since you came away. Why? I'll tell you. Because it will please little Jenny, who about worships you, though you don't deserve it. And I tell you this, Doctor: if I had found her I'd have come and told you straight--if I could have found you, for Jenny's sake." Leigh looked at him fixedly, trying hard to read the young man's face, but there was no flinching, no quivering of eyelid, or twitch about the lips. Claud gazed at him with a straightforward, dogged look which carried with it conviction. "Look here," sud Claud, "I haven't found out where she is." "Indeed?" said Leigh, guardedly. "But I've found out one thing." With all the young doctor's mastery of self, he could not help an inquiring glance. Claud saw it, and smiled.