Merton found the redoubtable Dr. Markham, an elderly man, clean shaven, prompt-looking, with very keen dark eyes, sitting at a writing table, with a few instruments of his profession lying about. The table stood on an oblong space of uncarpeted and polished flooring of some extent. Dr. Fogarty withdrew, the other doctor motioned Merton to a chair on the opposite side of the table. This chair was also on the uncarpeted space, and Merton observed four small brass plates in the parquet. Arranging his draperies, and laying aside his muff, Merton sat down, slightly shifting the position of the chair. 'Perhaps, Dr. Melville,' he said, 'it will be more reassuring to you if I at once hold my hands up,' and he sat there and smiled, holding up his neatly gloved hands. The doctor stared, and _his_ hand stole towards an instrument like an unusually long stethoscope, which lay on his table. Merton sat there 'hands up,' still smiling. 'Ah, the blow-tube?' he said. 'Very good and quiet! Do you use _urali_? Infinitely better, at close quarters, than the noisy old revolver.' 'I see I have to do with a cool hand, sir,' said the doctor. 'Ah,' said Merton. 'Then let us talk as between man and man.' He tilted his chair backwards, and crossed his legs. 'By the way, as I have no Aaron and Hur to help me to hold up my hands, may I drop them? The attitude, though reassuring, is fatiguing.' 'If you won't mind first allowing me to remove your muff,' said the doctor. It lay on the table in front of Merton. 'By all means, no gun in my muff,' said Merton. 'In fact I think the whole pistol business is overdone, and second rate.' 'I presume that I have the honour to speak to Mr. Merton?' asked the doctor. 'You slipped through the cordon?' 'Yes, I was the intoxicated miner,' said Merton. 'No doubt you have received a report from your agents?' 'Stupid fellows,' said the doctor. 'You are not flattering to me, but let us come to business. How much?' 'I need hardly ask,' said the doctor, 'it would be an insult to your intelligence, whether you have taken the usual precautions?' Merton, whose chair was tilted, threw himself violently backwards, upsetting his chair, and then scrambled nimbly to his feet. Between him and the table yawned a square black hole of unknown depth. 'Hardly fair, Dr. Melville,' said he, picking up the chair, and placing it on the carpet, 'besides, I _have_ taken the ordinary precautions. The house is surrounded--Ned Mahony's lambs--the usual statement is in the safe of a friend. We must really come to the point. Time is flying,' and he looked at his watch. 'I can give you twenty minutes.' 'Have you anything in the way of terms to propose?' asked the doctor, filling his pipe. 'Well, first, absolute secrecy. I alone know the state of the case.' 'Has Mr. Logan no guess?'