"I can manage that all right," said Colin. "I sha'n't be wanted at the hospital until seven." He finished pouring out the tea, and, having distributed the cups, took the vacant seat on the farther side of the fireplace. Somehow or other the personality of the big, suave solicitor had already inspired him with a vague distrust. He always disliked men with soft hands and that particular type of voice, especially when, as in the present case, their eyes were unpleasantly close together. He had, too, an instinctive feeling that, in spite of his apparent friendliness, Mr. Medwin was by no means disposed to regard him as a desirable addition to the Red Lodge. Whether it was a mere whim of the latter's, or whether he resented the prospect of anybody else being mixed up with the Professor's business affairs, it was impossible to guess. The only thing Colin felt sure about was that the announcement of his engagement had come to the other as a distinctly unwelcome surprise. After chatting away amiably for about twenty minutes, Mr. Medwin at length rose to his feet and announced that it was time for him to be taking his departure. "I live quite close by, in Albert Terrace," he added, turning to Colin, "so if you are in no special hurry it's hardly worth while bothering about a taxi. You can walk there and back in a quarter of an hour." "And I shall be extremely obliged to you for your trouble, Gray," interposed the Professor. "It will be a great convenience to me to have the papers to-night. I am really beginning to wonder how I have managed to get along all this time without you." Colin laughed, and, picking up his hat from the side table where he had originally placed it, followed the still smiling Mr. Medwin out into the hall and along the covered passageway. They exchanged no remark until the iron gate had closed behind them, when, turning down the hill, his new acquaintance addressed him with an air of good-natured amusement. "A queer character, our old friend," he observed. "I always say he might have stepped bodily out of one of Dickens's books." He paused, and eyed Colin again with that sharp, penetrating glance of his. "Have you known him long?" he added. "Not very," said Colin. "About an hour, to be exact." Mr. Medwin raised his eyebrows. "Really!" he exclaimed. "Then I suppose your arrangement to come and live at the Red Lodge was only decided this afternoon?" Colin nodded. "I wonder what put the idea into his head," continued the lawyer. "It's almost the last thing one would have expected from such a confirmed old hermit." For a moment Colin hesitated. The question was natural enough, but since the Professor had chosen to remain silent he thought it better to keep his own counsel. "There is a lot of hard work in connection with research," he replied. "When a man gets to his age he's bound to require a certain amount of help."