'Kind of fit, it is. Trouble done it. Yah! Ingratitood.' He would have hissed the word, but it has no sibilant. You can't hiss without the materials. 'Yesterday's trouble. That's what's done it.' They stood watching in silence for about ten minutes. The office was like the Court of the sleeping Princess. Then Checkley sneezed. Mr. Dering probably mistook the sneeze for a kiss, for he closed his eyes for a moment, opened them again, and arose once more himself, grave and austere. He nodded cheerfully, took off his hat, hung it on its peg, buttoned his coat, and threw open the safe. Evidently he remembered nothing of what had just passed. 'You are early, George,' he said. 'You are before me, which is unusual. However--the early bird--we know.' 'Before you for once. Are you quite well this morning? None the worse for yesterday's trouble?' 'He's always well,' said Checkley, with cheerfulness assumed. 'Nobody ever sees him ill--_he_ get ill? Not him. Eats as hearty as five-and-twenty and walks as upright.' 'I am perfectly well, to the best of my knowledge. Yesterday's business upset me for the time--but it did not keep me awake. Yet it is certainly a very great trouble. You have no news, I suppose, that brought you here earlier than usual?' 'Nothing new since yesterday.' 'And you feel pretty confident?' 'I feel like a sleuth-hound. I understand the pleasures of the chase. I long to be on the scent again. As for Edmund Gray, he is as good as in prison already.' 'Good. I was for the moment shaken out of myself. I was bewildered. I was unable to look at the facts of the case calmly. For the first time in my life I wanted advice. Well: I now understand what a great thing it is that our profession exists for the assistance of men in trouble. How would the world get along at all without solicitors?' He took his usual place at the table and turned over his letters. 'This morning,' he went on, 'I feel more assured: my mind is clear again. I can talk about the case. Now then. Let us see--Edmund Gray is no shadow but a man. He has made me recommend him to his landlord. He is a clever man and a bold man. Don't be in a hurry about putting your hands upon him. Complete your case before you strike. But make no delay.' 'There shall be none. And you shall hear everything from day to day, or from hour to hour.' Left alone, Mr. Dering returned to his papers and his work. At half-past one, Checkley looked in. 'Not going to take lunch this morning?' 'Lunch? I have only just----' Mr. Dering looked at his watch. 'Bless me! Most extraordinary! This morning has slipped away. I thought I had only just sat down. It seems not more than half an hour since Mr. Austin left me. Why, I should have forgotten all about it and let the time go by--nothing worse for a man of my years than irregular feeding.'