"And I hereby certify that the case of the said Person is one of emergency." It was then dated, and signed, "George W. Downie." "Asylum--Dr. Downie!" gasped Heriot. "But--what _is_ this?" "It says on the paper. Just look--can't you read?" Heriot gave a convulsive start. "Was--was _that_ Dr. Downie?" His son nodded. Again Heriot's startled eyes ran over the certificate, and then they turned upon his son. It is regrettable that his next words were not more worthy of his reputation. "You d----d young skunk!" "It's no use swearing," his son replied coldly. Mr. Walkingshaw fell back in his chair and seemed to meditate. "You wired to Glasgow for him?" he inquired in a moment. "I did." "So that I shouldn't recognize him, I suppose?" "Naturally." "What a sell if I'd spotted him and talked what the silly fool would have thought sense!" "You didn't," said Andrew. Mr. Walkingshaw shook his head. "Man, I'd never have given you credit for the brains to do the like of this." Then he started. "I see it all now! It was Madge put you up to the idea! Eh? Oh, you needn't trouble to deny it; I know you haven't the imagination yourself." With a calmer air he studied the paper afresh. "It's only for three days," he observed in a cheerier tone. "Do you actually imagine you're likely to get out at the end of three days?" Mr. Walkingshaw looked at his son steadily. "You know perfectly well that every word I said was true." Andrew remained coldly immovable. "I am no judge myself. I'd sooner depend on Dr. Downie's opinion." "Hypocrite to the last!" scoffed Heriot. "Can you look me in the face, Andrew, and tell me that you honestly thought it was insanity to make friends of my children and help them to marry the people they loved, and divide my money fairly among you all? Can you?" "Permit me to remind you that it was not I who signed the certificate." There was a moment's very dead silence, and then Heriot asked-- "Then do you actually mean to shut me up in a lunatic asylum for the rest of my days?" Andrew had some of the finer points of the legal mind. He noted the trace of emotion in his father's voice, and knew he was fairly on top at last. To let this fact sink still further into Heriot's mind, he eyed him in austere silence for a few moments before he answered-- "If I have to, I shall." "If you _have_ to? What d'ye mean?" "I mean that I am not going to have my business ruined--" "Ruined! Can you not stick to the truth on a single point? I am putting new life into it!"