"Never better. 'Tis wonnerful how the rheumatics be holding off--along of lemons. You might stare, but 'tis a flame-new remedy of doctor's. Lemon juice--pints of it." "Should have reckoned there was enough lemon in your nature without adding to it." "Enough and to spare. Yet you needn't rub that home to-day. I've heard a thing that's very much pleased me, I may tell you. Last news such a cranky and uncomfortable man as me might have expected." "Wish I could hear summat that would please me, I'm sure," said Jack. "But all that ever I hear of nowadays is other people's good luck. And there's nothing more damned uninteresting after a bit. Not that I grudge t'others----" "Of course you don't--not with your high opinions. You've said to me a score of times that there's no justice in the world, therefore 'tis no use your fretting about not getting any. We must take things as we find them." "And what's your luck, then? More money rolling in, I suppose?" "My luck--so to call it--mightn't look over large to another. 'Tis that my nephew Rupert and his wife want for me to be godfather to their babe. The child will be called after me, and I'm to stand godfather; and I'll confess to you, in secret, that I'm a good deal pleased about it." Jack sniffed and spat into the fire. He took a pipe out of his pocket, stuffed it, and lighted it before he answered. "I was going to say that little things please little minds, but I won't," he began. "If you can find pleasure in such a trifle--well, you'm fortunate. I should have reckoned with all the misery there is in the world around you, that there'd be more pain than pleasure in----" He broke off. "'Tis the thought," explained Mr. Baskerville. "It shows that they young people feel towards me a proper and respectful feeling. It shows that they'd trust me to be a godparent to this newborn child. I know very well that folk are often asked just for the sake of a silver spoon, or a christening mug; but my nephew Rupert and his wife Milly be very different to that. There's no truckling in them. They've thought this out, and reckoned I'm the right man--old as I am. And naturally I feel well satisfied about it." "Let that be, then. If you're pleased, their object be gained, for naturally they want to please you. Why not? You must die sooner or later, though nobody's better content than me to hear you'm doing so clever just at present. But go you must, and then there's your mighty fortune got to be left to something or somebody." "Mighty's not the word, Jack." "Ban't it? Then a little bird tells the people a lot of lies. And, talking of cash, I'm here over that matter myself." But Humphrey was not interested in cash for the moment.