"Don't be a fool, Thompson," said the doctor testily. "Now, then, what were you going to say?" "I was going to tell you that my visit would be to the Hall." "To the Hall?" cried North excitedly. "Yes. Here, what's the matter?" said Cousin Thompson excitedly. "He hasn't given me the slip?" "If you mean Sir Luke Candlish--" "No," said Thompson harshly; "I don't mean Luke Candlish. Here, why don't you speak, man? Has Tom Candlish gone?" "No; he is at the Hall; but--" "That's all right, then," said Cousin Thompson, drawing a breath of relief. "Oh, I see, you've been over." "Yes, I have been over." "And he is shamming illness again because he expected me to-day. But it won't do, Horace--it won't do. Come, now, he's quite well, isn't he? Don't turn against your own cousin, and back him up." "Tom Candlish is as well as a man can be under such horrible circumstances. His brother is dead." "Phew!" whistled the lawyer--a long-drawn, low, deep whistle. "Then he is now Sir Thomas Candlish." "Yes, and if you have lent him money at usury it will be all right." "At usury!" snarled the lawyer; "don't you be so fond of using that word. I must make money, and lending at interest is fair enough." "Where are you going?" "Going down to the Hall at once." "You said you had come to lunch." "Hang your lunch! I must see Tom Candlish." "Impossible. It would not be decent to go on business now." "Decent or indecent, I must see him at once." "My cousin; and how cordially I do dislike him!" muttered the doctor, as he watched the sleek, black back of his visitor as he went down towards the gate. "To go at a time like this! Well, thank goodness, I am not a money-grubber." He sat down in his study, and took a manuscript book from his drawer. Over this book he began to pore, but the words danced before his eyes, and he could think of nothing but Luke Candlish, the hale, strong man, suddenly cut off by accident, and of Leo's words bidding him distinguish himself. "No rest last night," he said, throwing the book back into the drawer; "I can't read, or think, or do anything." "Are you ready for your lunch, sir?" said Mrs Milt. "Mr Thompson will join you, I suppose?" "No; but I dare say he will come to dinner." "Ho! Lunch is quite ready, sir," said the old lady, in an ill-used tone, as the doctor moved towards the door. "Never mind; I can't eat to-day. Going out," said North hastily; and he hurriedly left the house, and passed down the village, where every one was discussing the accident at the Hall, and longed to question him, if such a thing could have been ventured upon. He had not seen Moredock for two or three days, and almost immediately, to avoid the torture of his thoughts, and what was rapidly approaching the stage of a great temptation, he walked to the old sexton's cottage.