"Though when I say 'touch'," he went on, "I don't mean quite that. The stuff is really mine. My father left me a few thousand, you see, but most injudiciously made Uncle Lester my trustee, and I'm not allowed to get at the capital without the old blighter's consent. And now a pal of mine in London has written offering me a half share in a new night club which he's starting if I will put up five hundred pounds." "I see." "And what I ask myself," said Hugo, "is will Uncle Lester part? That's what I ask myself. I can't say I'm betting on it." "From what I have seen of Mr. Carmody, I shouldn't say that parting was the thing he does best." "He's got absolutely no gift for it whatever," said Hugo gloomily. "Well, I wish you luck," said Doctor Twist. "But don't you try to bribe him with cigarettes." "Do what?" "Bribe him with cigarettes. After they have been taking the treatment for a while, most of these birds would give their soul for a coffin nail." Hugo started. He had not thought of this; but, now that it had been called to his attention, he saw that it was most certainly an idea. "And don't keep him standing around longer than you can help. He ought to get under that shower as soon as possible." "I suppose I couldn't tell him that owing to my pleading and persuasion you've consented to let him off a cold shower to-day?" "No, sir." "It would help," urged Hugo. "It might just sway the issue, as it were." "Sorry. He must have his shower. When a man's been exercising and has got himself into a perfect lather of sweat...." "Keep it clean," said Hugo coldly. "There is no need to stress the physical side. Oh, very well, then, I suppose I shall have to trust to tact and charm of manner. But I wish to goodness I hadn't got to spring business matters on him on top of what seems to have been a slightly hectic morning." He shot his cuffs, pulled down his waistcoat, and walked with a resolute step out of the room. He was about to try to get into the ribs of a man who for a lifetime had been saving up to be a miser and who, even apart from this trait in his character, held the subversive view that the less money young men had the better for them. Hugo was a gay optimist, cheerful of soul and a mighty singer in the bath tub, but he could not feel very sanguine. However, the Carmodys were a bulldog breed. He decided to have a pop at it. II Theoretically, no doubt, the process of exercising flaccid muscles, opening hermetically sealed pores, and stirring up a liver which had long supposed itself off the active list ought to engender in a man a jolly sprightliness. In practice, however, this is not always so. That Lester Carmody was in no radiant mood was shown at once by the expression on his face as he turned in response to Hugo's yodel from the rear. In spite of all that Healthward Ho had been doing to Mr. Carmody this last ten days, it was plain that he had not yet got that Kruschen feeling.