"When do we start?" said the doctor, staring. "My good man, I did not propose to take you." "Not take me, sir?" cried the butler, staring. "Why, whatever do you think you could do without me?" The doctor stared blankly at his man, and then turned to the professor. "Ah! No hesitation, Morris," said the latter sharply. "I haven't quite come round yet regarding both of you, though matters have altered me a good deal during the last five minutes; but with regard to this last phase--the idea of taking your servant--that really is quite out of the question." "I beg your pardon, sir," said Sam seriously; "I don't think that it would be right for master to think of going without me." "Well, Samuel, I must own," said the doctor thoughtfully, "I should miss your services very much." "You couldn't do it without me, sir," said the man sternly. "I shouldn't like you to attempt it." "Look here, Doctor Morris," said the professor angrily, "do you allow your servant to dictate to you like this?" "Well, you see," said the doctor, "Samuel has always been such a good, attentive fellow, and taken so much interest in his work, Landon, that I feel rather puzzled as to whether this is dictation or no." "It aren't, sir, really," cried Sam appealingly. "Is it, Mr Frank?" "Well, no, I don't think it is," said the young man. "I take it that Sam is only anxious to go on waiting upon his master." "That's it, sir. Thankye, Mr Frank. That's it, but it ain't all. If you three gentlemen are going on your travels to find and bring back Mr Harry, it seemed to me that I'm just the sort o' man as would be useful. I don't want to make out as I'm a dabster at any one thing, gentlemen, but there ain't many things I shouldn't be ready to have a try at, from catching one's dinner to cooking it, or from sewing on buttons to making a shoe." "Look here, Sam, you can shave, I know," said Frank, "for you've shaved me several times." "Well, sir," said the man, with a queer cock of the eye, "I've soaped and lathered your chin, and I've run a razor over your face, but I don't think I found anything to scrape off." "I call that mean," cried Frank; "just when I was putting in a word for you. I'm sure there was a little down on my upper lip and chin." "Oh, yes, sir, just as if you had had a touch with a sooty finger; but down don't count with me in shaving; it's what comes up bristly and strong." "Well, leave my beard alone," said Frank. "Look here, could you shave a man's head?" "Ask master, sir," said the butler with a grin, and Frank turned to his brother's old companion. "Oh, yes, he has shaved the heads of patients for me several times," said the doctor. "He's very clever at that." "I say, Professor Landon," said Frank, turning to him, "do you hear this? The Hakim ought to have his barber, and you know what important folk they are in the East."