As the lawyer walked through the principal street of the Port, he saw a light in the office of Dr. Bilks. He had done all he could do that night on the beach, and round the streets, and he was disposed to look into the eye of the doctor, and to hear what he had to say. He entered without the preliminary of ringing or knocking. Dr. Bilks sat in his easy chair reading, not The Lancet, but the last new novel. He jumped out of his chair when Mr. Birch entered, and walked towards him with extended hand. “I am glad to see you, Birch,” exclaimed he, heartily. “I was afraid I shouldn’t see you again.” “Why were you afraid of that?” demanded Dick, coldly enough, but as warmly as he could speak to such a man. “Because, for some inexplicable reason, you seem to have raised your back against me,” replied the doctor, with an injured air. “But I am glad to see you. Have a cigar? they are not your favorite brand, but they are the best I have.” “I was not aware that I had raised my back against you in any manner to which you could take exception,” answered Dick, as he lighted the cigar. “But what an infernal scorching you gave me in the court this morning!” exclaimed the doctor, laughing. “That was merely professional. The blue pill you gave me a month ago was not pleasant to take, but I didn’t blame you.” “But the point on which you drove me to the wall was of no importance. I never felt so bad before in my life. I had forgotten all about this affair at the Settlement, and to save my life, I couldn’t call up a single circumstance, except what was strictly professional. You placed me in an awkward position; and I came very near fainting away under it.” “I am sorry you suffered so much, doctor.” “I did suffer a great deal. When a man means to tell the whole truth, and is trying to do it, it is hard to be driven up on points of no consequence.” “I did not regard the point as of no consequence.” “Birch, you and I have been the best of friends since I came to Poppleton. Your influence gave me a position at once, and I am very grateful to you for all you did. But, Birch, you placed me in the ugliest situation I ever was in, to-day. I don’t think it was the least matter to you or to the court who or what my patient was. I feel aggrieved by what you did. You made me appear ridiculous, if not untruthful.” Dr. Bilks looked hurt and indignant. He acted like a man who had been injured by his best friend. “Doctor, I have only one face. We will not quarrel,” said Dick. “We will not; but I think it is no more that just that you should explain your extraordinary conduct. Let us be frank and candid, as between friend and friend.” “I will, with all my heart,” said Birch, who found it practically impossible to conceal himself, even from the man he regarded as his enemy. “I assure you that no amount of candor would offend me. Keep nothing back, Birch!”