A banner-like stream of morning-coloured smoke rolled North-eastward as I entered London, and I drove to Temple's chambers. He was in Court, engaged in a case as junior to his father. Temple had become that radiant human creature, a working man, then? I walked slowly to the Court, and saw him there, hardly recognising him in his wig. All that he had to do was to prompt his father in a case of collision at sea; the barque Priscilla had run foul of a merchant brig, near the mouth of the Thames, and though I did not expect it on hearing the vessel's name, it proved to be no other than the barque Priscilla of Captain Jasper Welsh. Soon after I had shaken Temple's hand, I was going through the same ceremony with the captain himself, not at all changed in appearance, who blessed his heart for seeing me, cried out that a beard and mustachios made a foreign face of a young Englishman, and was full of the 'providential' circumstance of his having confided his case to Temple and his father. 'Ay, ay, Captain Welsh,' said Temple, 'we have pulled you through, only another time mind you keep an eye on that look-out man of yours. Some of your men, I suspect, see double with an easy conscience. A close net makes slippery eels.' 'Have you anything to say against my men?' the captain inquired. Temple replied that he would talk to him about it presently, and laughed as he drew me away. 'His men will get him into a deuce of a scrape some day, Richie. I shall put him on his guard. Have you had all my letters? You look made of iron. I'm beginning capitally, not afraid of the Court a bit, and I hope I'm not pert. I wish your father had taken it better!' 'Taken what?' said I. 'Haven't you heard from him?' 'Two or three times: a mass of interjections.' 'You know he brought his Case forward at last? Of course it went as we all knew it would.' 'Where is he? Have you seen Janet lately?' 'He is at Miss Ilchester's house in London.' 'Write the address on a card.' Temple wrote it rather hesitatingly, I thought. We talked of seeing one another in the evening, and I sprang off to Janet's residence, forgetting to grasp my old friend's hand at parting. I was madly anxious to thank her for the unexpected tenderness to my father. And now nothing stood between us! My aunt Dorothy was the first to welcome me. 'He must be prepared for the sight of you, Harry. The doctors say that a shock may destroy him. Janet treats him so wonderfully.' I pressed her on my heart and cheered her, praising Janet. She wept. 'Is there anything new the matter?' I said. 'It 's not new to us, Harry. I'm sure you're brave?' 'Brave! what am I asked to bear?' 'Much, if you love her, Harry!' 'Speak.' 'It is better you should hear it from me, Harry. I wrote you word of it. We all imagined it would not be disagreeable to you. Who could foresee this change in you? She least of all!' 'She's in love with some one?' 'I did not say in love.' 'Tell me the worst.'