"Yes. It's my knife," he said. He was about to add that it had not been his for three months, but did not because each word he uttered was a stab in his head. "Thank you," said the Doctor, "That is very satisfactory. You see, Andrew, your Minorcan friend, Zafortezas, happened to stab poor Mr. Cave in the arm with that knife a few hours ago. A flesh-wound only, fortunately. Your knife. Curious. And the same evening, you, for some inexplicable reason, attempt to murder me with a pistol. It begins to look like a plot, Andrew--it begins to look like a plot"--and he shook his head sorrowfully, while his eyes danced with little points of light. "You--" said Andrew, raging impotently. "Yes, Andrew. A plot to take my plantation from me. Ah, Andrew, Andrew, I wouldn't have believed it of you," he said. Andrew was silent, feeling unmanly tears of weak fury prick at his eyes. Then he thought of something. "I appeal to the governor," he said. "Inadvisable," said Dr. Gentian. "The governor may not be my friend--but I doubt if he would give much weight to any appeal from a Northern rebel." "Rebel?" said Andrew, dizzily. "Rebel. Oh, I forgot--you have not had your mail. Well, you may take it to jail with you, and read it there. Yes, Andrew--the Northern Colonies are in revolt. There's been blood spilt--" He tossed a packet of letters into Andrew's lap. "Most interesting--especially the one from your brother. He seems to be deeply involved in the rebellion. Your father is greatly concerned." Andrew was struck dumb. So it had come at last. He saw his brother Lucius firing at a man in a red coat--his father sitting at his desk in the home on Wall Street with a newspaper crumpled before him and his eyes looking into a darkness--and felt, for a bitter moment, that he himself was the most futile person alive. "When did it happen?' he said. "In April," Dr. Gentian smiled, "At a place called Lexington--and Concord--near Boston, aren't they? They say the colonials ran like hares." "You lie," said Andrew, with an intensity that surprised him, "They wouldn't run before a parcel of lobsterbacks." "No?" said Dr. Gentian. He smiled again. "You will note, Mr. Cave, that our friend has just insulted the entire British army _in toto_." "I'll note it," said Mr. Cave, greedily, "I'll remember it." A knock came at the door. "There, sir," said Mr. Cave, "There are our lobsterbacks now."