The doctor drove this time; Major Leckie sitting beside him, I in the perch behind. Leaving the major at the hairdresser's, upon reaching Lefford, Dr. Knox and I went home. And this is what occurred--as we heard later. Ringing at the private door, which was Captain Collinson's proper entrance, a young servant-girl appeared, and--after the manner of many young country servants--sent Major Leckie alone up to Captain Collinson's rooms, saying she supposed the captain was at home. It turned out that he was not at home. Seated before the fire was a gentleman in a crimson dressing-gown and slippers, smoking a huge pipe. "Come in," cried out he, in answer to the major's knock. "I beg your pardon," said the major, entering. "I understood that Captain Collinson lodged here." "He does lodge here," replied he of the dressing-gown, putting his pipe into the fender, as he rose. "What is it that you want with him?" "I only called to see him. I am one of his brother-officers--home on sick leave; as I understand he is." "Collinson is out," said the gentleman. "I am sorry it should happen so. Can you leave any message?" "Will he be long? I should much like to see him." "He will be back to dinner to-night; not much before that, I think. He is gone by train to--to--some place a few miles off. Boom--or Room--or Doom--or some such name. I am a stranger here." "Toome, I suppose," remarked the major. "It's the last station before you get to Lefford--I noticed the name last night. I am very sorry. I should liked to have seen Collinson. Tell him so, will you. I am Major Leckie." "You will be calling again, perhaps?" "I can't do that. I must spend the rest of this day with my friend, Sir Henry Westmorland, and I leave to-night. Tell Collinson that I embark in a few days. Stay: this is my address in London, if he will write to me. I wonder he did not attempt to find me out--I came home before he did: and he knew that he could always get my address at my bankers'." "I will tell Collinson all you say, Major Leckie," said the stranger, glancing at the card. "It is a pity he is out." "Should he come back in time--though I fear, by what you say, there's little chance of it--be so good as to say that Sir Henry Westmorland will be happy to see him to dinner this evening at Foxgrove, at six o'clock--and to come over as much earlier as he can." With the last words, Major Leckie left, Collinson's friend politely attending him down to the front-door. I was standing at Mr. Tamlyn's gate as he passed it on his way back to Foxgrove. Dr. Knox, then going off on foot to see a patient, came across the yard from the surgery at the same moment. "Such a mischance!" the major stopped in his rapid walk to say to us. "Collinson has gone to Toome to-day. I saw a friend of his, who is staying with him, and he thinks he won't be back before night." "I did not know Collinson had any one staying with him," remarked the doctor. "Some one called in upon him, probably."