"Of course I suppose you are aware, Major Staines, of what you have done with your very excellent chances?" Winn shook his head doubtfully. He hadn't, as a matter of fact, thought much lately about these particular chances. "Ah," said Dr. Gurnet, "then I regret to inform you that you have simply walked through them--or, in your case, I should be inclined to imagine, tobogganed--and you have come out the other side. You haven't got any chances now." Winn did not say anything for a moment or two; then he observed: "I'm afraid I've rather wasted your time." "Pray don't mention it," said Dr. Gurnet. "It is so small a thing compared with what you have done with your own." Winn laughed. "You rather have me there," he admitted; "I suppose I have been rather an ass." "My dear fellow," said Dr. Gurnet, more kindly, "I'm really annoyed about this, extremely annoyed. I had booked you to get well. I expected it. What have you been doing with yourself? You've broken down that right lung badly; the infection has spread to the left. It was not the natural progress of the disease, which was in process of being checked; it is owing to a very great and undue physical strain, and absolutely no attempt to take precautions after it. Also you have, I should say, complicated this by a great nervous shock." "Nonsense!" said Winn, briefly. "I don't go in for nerves." "You must allow me to correct you," said Dr. Gurnet, gently. "You are a human being, and all human beings are open to the effects of shock." "I'm afraid I haven't quite played the game," Winn confessed, after a short pause. "I hadn't meant to let you down like this, Doctor Gurnet. I think it is due to me to tell you that I shouldn't have come to you for orders if I had intended at the time to shirk them. You're quite right about the tobogganing: I had a go at the Cresta. I know it shook me up a bit, but I didn't spill. Perhaps something went wrong then." "And why, may I ask, did you do it?" Dr. Gurnet asked ironically. "You did not act solely, I presume, from an idea of thwarting my suggestions?" Winn's eyes moved away from the gimlets opposite them. "I found time dragging on my hands, rather," he explained a trifle lamely. "Ah," said Dr. Gurnet, "you should have done what I told you--you should have flirted; then you wouldn't have found time hanging on your hands." Winn held his peace. He thought Dr. Gurnet had a right to be annoyed, so he gave him his head; but he had an uncomfortable feeling that Dr. Gurnet would make a very thorough use of this concession. Dr. Gurnet watched Winn silently for a few moments, then he said: "People who don't wish to get well don't get well; but, on the other hand, it is very rare that people who wish to die die. They merely get very ill and give everybody a great deal of highly unnecessary trouble."