"It's no good getting cross," returned the housekeeper impassively. "You asked Mr. Medwin to call, and you can't leave 'im sitting in the study." "Oh, he's come, has he?" was the slightly mollified answer. "Well, in that case I suppose we had better go along and make ourselves civil to him." He turned to Colin, who had followed him to the door. "You will stay to tea, of course?" he added. Colin, who was trying hard not to smile, expressed his willingness, and, having closed and locked the laboratory, the Professor conducted him back through the hall to the room which they had recently quitted. A big, clean-shaven, middle-aged man, who was standing in front of the fire, stepped forward at their entrance. "I hope I am not too punctual," he began, in a curiously smooth voice. "I think four o'clock was the time you mentioned in your letter." He shook hands with his host, and at the same time his glance travelled inquisitively toward Colin. "That's quite correct," replied the Professor. "I was just showing the laboratory to my young friend here. By the way, let me introduce you. Doctor Gray--Mr. Medwin." Colin felt his hand enveloped in a large, soft palm, while a pair of very acute eyes rapidly scanned his face. "I am delighted to meet you," said Mr. Medwin. "It's a pleasure that you will probably have on future occasions," observed the Professor. "Doctor Gray is coming to live here as my resident assistant." It seemed to Colin that in spite of his bland manner the lawyer was momentarily disconcerted. "Really," he observed, after a slight hesitation, "I had no idea that you were contemplating anything of that sort." "I don't suppose you had," said the Professor drily. "The idea only occurred to me last week, but when I make up my mind I generally act upon it at once. If you will forgive my saying so, Medwin, it's a habit that some members of your profession might cultivate with advantage." Mr. Medwin, who appeared to have recovered his self-possession, smiled affably. "I won't dispute the statement," he said. "There's no doubt that, taking us altogether, we're a dilatory lot." The arrival of Mrs. Ramsay with the tea made a temporary diversion, and, having requested Colin to officiate, the Professor seated himself on the couch alongside his visitor. "What I chiefly wanted to see you about," he began, "was that new agreement with the American Dye Company. I had a letter from them yesterday, and, with their usual transatlantic hustle, they are anxious to get the matter settled up at once." "Well, there's no reason why it shouldn't be," returned the other. "I went through the papers last night, and they all seem to be in order. If I had known you were in a hurry I would have brought them along." He paused. "Perhaps Doctor Gray would be good enough to stroll back with me as far as my house after tea. In that case I can hand them over to him. I would fetch them myself, but, unfortunately, I have an engagement."