"Settles what!" cried the professor, in a tone full of mock disgust. "Hark at him, Frank! Settles this, sir," he continued, flashing his fierce eyes upon the doctor, clenching his fist menacingly, and shaking his shaggy hair. "I'm off back to Egypt as soon as ever I can get a berth in a steamer, and then I'm going right up the country with tools in every pocket on purpose to file off those chains." "Bravo! bravo!" shouted the other two. "An Englishman in chains," continued the professor, gesticulating like an orator, though as a rule he was one of the quietest of men, "and of all Englishmen in the world, our Harry, the merriest school-fellow, the heartiest undergrad, and the truest friend!" "And brother," said Frank softly. "Yes," cried the professor excitedly, "and brother, that man ever had. The brother we three have mourned as dead for years, but who lives--as a slave." "Britons never shall be slaves," cried the doctor solemnly. "Never!" said Frank through his teeth, and with a look of stern determination in his eyes which meant more than words could have expressed. "Never!" cried the professor, bringing his fist down with such a crash that this time a large goblet leaped off the table, was smashed upon the floor, and the next moment the door was thrown open and Sam, the doctor's butler, as he called himself, looking white with anxiety, rushed into the room, to stand staring wildly from one to the other. This quelled the professor's excitement at once, and he dropped back in his chair and began mopping his face. "What's the matter, Samuel?" said the doctor sternly. "That's what I've come to see, sir," cried the man piteously. "I did stop in the hall, sir, in aggynies, waiting to know. First in comes Mr Frank when I opens the door to him and hits me in the chest hard, just like a patient as has got rid of the strait w. Into the dining-room he bangs, before I could announce him, and without a bit o' pollergy, slams the door after him. Then master goes into his consulting-room in a hurry and comes back with a something to exhibit, looking as he always do when there's anything serious on; and ever since it's been getting worse and worse, and you never rung for me, sir. Fancy my feelings, sir! First s'posing as it was fits with Mr Frank, sir; then it seemed to be you, sir; and then the professor went on, having it worse than either of you, sir, till it got to the smashing of my glass, and I couldn't bear it no longer." "No, no, of course you couldn't, Sam," cried Frank; "and you must know at once. It's news, Sam--glorious news--the best of news. My brother is alive after all!" "What!" cried the man. "Mr Harry, sir?" "Yes, alive, Sam--alive!" "What, him as was dead, sir?" "Yes, alive, I tell you." "What, him as was killed out in the Soudan--our Mr Harry, sir, as we give the dinner to in this very room, when he made that speech as I stood and heared to the very end?"