'Let me understand. Would you propose to die to-morrow?' 'I'd propose to begin. This show's got to be worked artistic. I can't drop down dead as if I'd had a fit. Maybe some keen-nosed relative might start sniffing. Might want a coroner's inquest or something of that. Holy Paul! Where'd I be if they started a post mortem? I'd have to quit being dead so that I could start explaining. This job'll have to be done in a workmanlike manner; my professional reputation is at stake. To-morrow I begin by sending you a message.' 'A message?--of what nature?' 'Why, I go to an hotel, just well enough not to be refused admission, and ill enough to take to my bed directly I'm inside. If they turn shirty, and remark that that hotel is not a hospital, I'll tell them that I'm the Marquis of Twickenham. I shan't choose too swell a place, so that they may be proud of having the Marquis of Twickenham on the premises, if it's only to die there. There'll be a pretty bill for the estate to pay: because a funeral at an hotel comes dear. Then I send you a message: a note, say--"Dear Smith"----' 'Don't call me Smith.' 'No? Then what'll I call you? Brown?' 'I suppose this introducing myself is part of the farce. If you do write such a note, call me Douglas.' 'That's all?' 'My name is Douglas Howarth. You are sure you have never heard that name before?' 'Might have. I'll say, "Dear Douglas Howarth, I have returned to die. Come and smooth my pillow at the end. So that I may die grasping friendship's hand. Your long lost Twickenham."' 'A note of that kind would hardly be in keeping with the supposed writer's well-known character.' 'No? Then what price this? "Dear Doug, I'm dying. If you have a moment to spare you might look in. Twick."' 'That's better. Oddly enough he used to call me "Doug," and sign himself "Twick."' 'That's so? Why shouldn't he have done? You hurry to my suffering side, bringing with you five hundred pounds in notes, which you slip into my clammy palm.' 'I should prefer to give you the thousand pounds afterwards.' 'I shouldn't. Half first, then the rest. If you don't bring five hundred when you come--I'll recover.' This was spoken with an accent which suggested varied possibilities.