“I am sure, Madame, you are infinitely kind,” replied Doctor Phillips gravely. “Not at all! You’ll meet no end of swells there, Prince Loris of Taxelmein, and Prince Adalbert of Waxsquiemer, and ’eaps of others. But all the same we’re in trade, the Baron and I--and we’re not ashamed of it either. We make boots and shoes! Our firm is Fantaisie et Cie, of Oxford Street, and though I say it, you won’t find better boots and shoes in all London than ours. No brown paper soles, and rotten uppers! Not a bit of it! It’s all genuine stuff with us. You can take any boot out of the shop and rip it to pieces, and prove what I say! The best materials, and the best workmen, that’s our principle, and it answers. We can’t make ’em fast enough!” “I have no doubt of it,” again gravely responded the old doctor. “Ah! you might send some of your patients to us, Doctor, and we’ll pay back by recommending you to our friends. Are you a Gout man? Prince Adalbert ’as the gout awfully! I’ve rubbed ’is feet with Elliman’s Embrocation, by the hour together, but nothing gives ’im relief! Now if you could cure ’im your fortune would be made! ’E says it’s all the English climate, but _I_ say it’s over-eating, and ’e’d attend more to a medical man, if ’e told ’im to diet, than ’e will to me!” “Doubtless, doubtless!” said the Doctor, in a dreamy manner. He seemed to be lost in a reverie, and Margaret had to touch his arm to remind him that the meal was concluded. She wanted him to join the others in a promenade and see the beauties of Heyst, but he was strangely eager in declining it. “No! no! let the youngsters go and enjoy themselves, but I want to speak to you, _alone_.” “My dear doctor, you frighten me! Nothing about baby, I hope!” “Not at all! Don’t be foolish! But I want to talk to you where we cannot be overheard.” “I think we had better wait till the rest have dispersed then, and go down upon the sands. It is almost impossible to be private in a hotel like this!” “All right! Get your hat and we will stroll off together.” As soon as they were out of earshot, he commenced abruptly, “It is about that Miss Brandt! You seem pretty intimate with her! You must stop it at once. You must have nothing more to do with her.” Margaret’s eyes opened wide with distress. “But, Doctor Phillips, for what reason? I don’t see how we could give her up now, unless we leave the place.” “Then leave the place! You mustn’t know her, neither must Miss Leyton. She comes of a terrible parentage. No good can ever ensue of association with her.” “You must tell me more than this, Doctor, if you wish me to follow your advice!” “I will tell you all I know myself! Some twelve or thirteen years ago I was quartered in medical charge of the Thirteenth Lances, and stationed in Jamaica, where I knew of, rather than knew, the father of this girl, Henry Brandt. You called him a doctor--he was not worthy of the name. He was a scientist perhaps--a murderer certainly!”