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"Well, the present listener doesn't," I said

"Then," said Mr Bellingha you all rumble to a responsibleat Fortune, as you will agree when I tell you that, a couple of years ago, I went to bed one night a gentleman of independentto find ar Not a cheerful experience that, you know, at reed, "nor at any other"

"And that was not all," he continued; "for, at the same moment, I lost my only brother, my dearest, kindest friend He disappeared--vanished off the face of the earth; but perhaps you have heard of the affair The confounded papers were full of it at the tie in my face Of course, I recollected the case now Indeed, ever since I had entered the house so, and now his last words had struck out the full note

"Yes," I said, "I reh I don't suppose I should but for the fact that our lecturer on medical jurisprudence drew ham, rather uneasily, as I fancied "What did he say about it?"

"He referred to it as a case that was calculated to give rise to soal complications"

"By Jove!" exclaial couessed at the sort of infernal tangle that has actually gathered round the affair By the as his name?"

"Thorndyke," I replied "Doctor John Thorndyke"

"Thorndyke," Mr Bellingha, retrospective tone "I seeal friend of mine, a Mr Marchmont, speak of hihtly years ago--a certain Jeffrey Blackmore, who also disappeared very mysteriously I remember now that Doctor Thorndyke unravelled that case with enuity"

"I daresay he would be very ested

"I daresay he would," was the reply; "but one can't take up a professional , and I couldn't afford to pay hiossiping aboutround is finished," said I, "and,I suppose I lement?"