"I wouldn't advise you to. In fact, I wouldn't advise you to encourage him on the subject in any way. I think it's better to leave those things alone. Darkies are darkies, and no power on earth would persuade Pete against his rabbit's foot. No! Steer clear of that, my dear fellow, and you'll find him all right." We spent the afternoon in the surgery. Lennox showed me a detailed account of his cases--they were very few--in a notebook. He had evidently been at pains that I should find no trouble in taking over the work. "I've left some things in rather a mess," he said. "I told you I'd been upset lately ... but I think you'll find it all right." Supper was at six. Pete, true to his word, brought the mare back well before dusk. I could hear him whistling in the coach-house as he hung the harness away. "I suppose you'd find use for a motor-cycle here?" I asked Lennox as we sat in the dining-room after supper. It was barely dark outside, but the housekeeper had already drawn the curtains and lighted the lamp. I would have infinitely preferred my pipe on the porch, but if Lennox chose to stew indoors this weather it was no business of mine, and it would only be forced on me for one evening. "I used to have one," he said, "but I gave it up. The roads aren't very good here, and I found a horse better. Did you bring one?" "It's coming on tomorrow." "Oh? Well, you'll suit yourself. The roads aren't very good at night, but the mare is used to them. Not that I have many night calls." It was a few minutes after that he looked at me suddenly as we sat opposite one another across the unlighted hearth. "I suppose you're fit--in good health and all that. I didn't ask." "Perfectly." "That's good. Never had any nerve trouble, for instance?" "Not an atom!" "I'm glad. It's as well to be sure, you know." He laughed, rather apologetically. "I was quite lucky to get you." It seemed that Lennox kept early hours. It was barely half-past ten when he proposed turning in. The heavy country air had made me sleepy, and I was ready enough to follow his lead. Lennox's room was directly over the surgery, with which it communicated by a little staircase, convenient for night calls. Both the surgery and the room above it had been built as a later addition to the house. The bedroom would be mine later; for the present I was put into a small extra bedroom across the landing from his own. I slept heavily, but a little after midnight, as I judged, I was roused by hearing movements below stairs. People were talking; I fancied I heard a woman's voice, low and querulous. Evidently it was not a call too urgent to wait for daylight, for a few moments later I heard the floor of Lennox's room creak as he returned to bed. I fell asleep again easily, and when I woke the second time it was broad daylight. I asked Lennox at breakfast if there was any fresh call for the day. He looked at me narrowly.