believeImaybeinapositiontobeofsomeservicetoafriendofyours——togivehim，atleast，someverywelcomeinformation。”
　　Thelastclausewasasoptomyconscience：Icouldnotpretend，eventomyself，eitherthepowerorthewilltoserveMr。Carthew；butIfeltsurehewouldliketoheartheFlyingScudwasburned。
　　“Idon’tknow——I——Idon’tunderstandyou。”stammeredmyvictim。“Idon’thaveanyfriendsinHonolulu，don’tyouknow？”
　　“ThefriendtowhomIreferisEnglish。”Ireplied。“ItisMr。
　　Carthew，whomyoupickedupatMidway。Myfirmhasboughtthewreck；Iamjustreturnedfrombreakingherup；and——tomakemybusinessquitecleartoyou——IhaveacommunicationitisnecessaryIshouldmake；andhavetotroubleyouforMr。Carthew’saddress。”
　　ItwillbeseenhowrapidlyIhaddroppedallhopeofinterestingthefrigidBritishbear。He，onhisside，wasplainlyonthornsatmyinsistence；IjudgedhewassufferingtormentsofalarmlestIshouldproveanundesirableacquaintance；diagnosedhimforashy，dull，vain，unamiableanimal，withoutadequatedefence——
　　asortofdishousedsnail；andconcluded，rightlyenough，thathewouldconsenttoanythingtobringourinterviewtoaconclusion。Amomentlater，hehadfled，leavingmewithasheetofpaper，thusinscribed：——
　　NorrisCarthew，Stallbridge-le-Carthew，Dorset。
　　Imighthavecriedvictory，thefieldofbattleandsomeoftheenemy’sbaggageremaininginmyoccupation。Asamatteroffact，mymoralsufferingsduringtheengagementhadrivalledthoseofMr。Sebright；Iwasleftincapableoffreshhostilities；I
　　ownedthatthenavyofoldEnglandwasformeinvincibleasofyore；andgivingupallthoughtofthedoctor，inclinedtosaluteherveteranflag，inthefuture，fromaprudentdistance。
　　Suchwasmyinclination，whenIretiredtorest；andmyfirstexperiencethenextmorningstrengthenedittocertainty。ForI
　　hadthepleasureofencounteringmyfairantagonistonhiswayonboard；andhehonouredmewitharecognitionsodisgustinglydry，thatmyimpatienceoverflowed，andrecallingthetacticsofNelsonIneglectedtoperceiveortoreturnit。
　　Judgeofmyastonishment，somehalf-hourlater，toreceiveanoteofinvitationfromtheTempest。
　　“DearSir。”itbegan，“weareallnaturallyverymuchinterestedinthewreckoftheFlyingScud，andassoonasImentionedthatIhadthepleasureofmakingyouracquaintance，averygeneralwishwasexpressedthatyouwouldcomeanddineonboard。Itwillgiveusallthegreatestpleasuretoseeyouto-night，orincaseyoushouldbeotherwiseengaged，toluncheoneitherto-morroworto-day。”Anoteofthehoursfollowed，andthedocumentwoundupwiththenameof“J。
　　LascellesSebright。”underanundeniablestatementthathewassincerelymine。
　　“No，Mr。LascellesSebright。”Ireflected，“youarenot，butI
　　begintosuspectthatliketheladyinthesongyouareanother’s。Youhavementionedyouradventure，myfriend；youhavebeenblownup；youhavegotyourorders；thisnotehasbeendictated；andIamaskedonboardinspiteofyourmelancholyprotestsnottomeetthemen，andnottotalkabouttheFlyingScud，buttoundergothescrutinyofsomeoneinterestedinCarthew：thedoctor，forawager。Andforasecondwager，allthisspringsfromyourfacilityingivingtheaddress。”Ilostnotimeinansweringthebillet，electingfortheearliestoccasion；andattheappointedhour，asomewhatblackguard-lookingboat’screwfromtheNorahCreinaconveyedmeunderthegunsoftheTempest。
　　Theward-roomappearedpleasedtoseeme；Sebright’sbrotherofficers，incontrasttohimself，tookaboyishinterestinmycruise；andmuchwastalkedoftheFlyingScud；ofhowshehadbeenlost，ofhowIhadfoundher，andoftheweather，theanchorage，andthecurrentsaboutMidwayIsland。Carthewwasreferredtomorethanoncewithoutembarrassment；theparallelcaseofalateEarlofAberdeen，whodiedmateonboardaYankeeschooner，wasadduced。Iftheytoldmelittleoftheman，itwasbecausetheyhadnotmuchtotell，andonlyfeltaninterestinhisrecognitionandpityforhisprolongedill-
　　health。Icouldneverthinkthesubjectwasavoided；anditwasclearthattheofficers，farfrompractisingconcealment，hadnothingtoconceal。
　　Sofar，then，allseemednatural，andyetthedoctortroubledme。
　　Thiswasatall，rugged，plainman，onthewrongsideoffifty，alreadygray，andwitharestlessmouthandbushyeyebrows：hespokeseldom，butthenwithgaiety；andhisgreat，quaking，silentlaughterwasinfectious。Icouldmakeoutthathewasatoncethequizoftheward-roomandperfectlyrespected；andI
　　madesurethatheobservedmecovertly。ItiscertainIreturnedthecompliment。IfCarthewhadfeignedsickness——andallseemedtopointinthatdirection——herewasthemanwhoknewall——orcertainlyknewmuch。Hisstrong，sterlingfaceprogressivelyandsilentlypersuadedofhisfullknowledge。
　　Thatwasnotthemouth，thesewerenottheeyes，ofonewhowouldactinignorance，orcouldbeledatrandom。Noragainwasitthefaceofamansqueamishinthecaseofmalefactors；
　　therewasevenatouchofBrutusthere，andsomethingofthehangingjudge。Inshort，heseemedthelastcharacterforthepartassignedhiminmytheories；andwonderandcuriositycontendedinmymind。
　　Luncheonwasover，andanadjournmenttothesmoking-roomproposed，whenuponasuddenimpulseIburnedmyships，andpleadingindisposition，requestedtoconsultthedoctor。
　　“Thereisnothingthematterwithmybody，Dr。Urquart。”saidI，assoonaswewerealone。
　　Hehummed，hismouthworked，heregardedmesteadilywithhisgrayeyes，butresolutelyheldhispeace。
　　“IwanttotalktoyouabouttheFlyingScudandMr。Carthew。”
　　Iresumed。“Come：youmusthaveexpectedthis。Iamsureyouknowall；youareshrewd，andmusthaveaguessthatI
　　knowmuch。Howarewetostandtooneanother？andhowamItostandtoMr。Carthew？”
　　“Idonotfullyunderstandyou。”hereplied，afterapause；andthen，afteranother：“ItisthespiritIreferto，Mr。Dodd。”
　　“Thespiritofmyinquiries？”Iasked。
　　Henodded。
　　“Ithinkweareatcross-purposes。”saidI。“ThespiritispreciselywhatIcameinquestof。IboughttheFlyingScudataruinousfigure，runupbyMr。Carthewthroughanagent；andIam，inconsequence，abankrupt。ButifIhavefoundnofortuneinthewreck，Ihavefoundunmistakableevidencesoffoulplay。Conceivemyposition：Iamruinedthroughthisman，whomIneversaw；Imightverywelldesirerevengeorcompensation；andIthinkyouwilladmitIhavethemeanstoextorteither。”
　　Hemadenosigninanswertothischallenge。
　　“Canyounotunderstand，then。”Iresumed，“thespiritinwhichIcometoonewhoissurelyinthesecret，andaskhim，honestlyandplainly：HowdoIstandtoMr。Carthew？”
　　“Imustaskyoutobemoreexplicit。”saidhe。
　　“Youdonothelpmemuch。”Iretorted。“Butseeifyoucanunderstand：myconscienceisnotveryfine-spun；still，Ihaveone。Now，therearedegreesoffoulplay，tosomeofwhichI
　　havenoparticularobjection。IamsurewithMr。Carthew，Iamnotatallthepersontoforgoanadvantage；andIhavemuchcuriosity。Butontheotherhand，Ihavenotasteforpersecution；andIaskyoutobelievethatIamnotthemantomakebadworse，orheaptroubleontheunfortunate。”
　　“Yes；IthinkIunderstand。”saidhe。“SupposeIpassyoumywordthat，whatevermayhaveoccurred，therewereexcuses——
　　greatexcuses——Imaysay，verygreat？”
　　“Itwouldhaveweightwithme，doctor。”Ireplied。
　　“Imaygofurther。”hepursued。“SupposeIhadbeenthere，oryouhadbeenthere：afteracertaineventhadtakenplace，it’sagravequestionwhatwemighthavedone——it’sevenaquestionwhatwecouldhavedone——ourselves。Ortakeme。Iwillbeplainwithyou，andownthatIaminpossessionofthefacts。
　　YouhaveashrewdguesshowIhaveactedinthatknowledge。
　　MayIaskyoutojudgefromthecharacterofmyaction，somethingofthenatureofthatknowledge，whichIhavenocall，noryetnotitle，tosharewithyou？”
　　IcannotconveyasenseoftheruggedconvictionandjudicialemphasisofDr。Urquart’sspeech。Tothosewhodidnothearhim，itmayappearasifhefedmeonenigmas；tomyself，whoheard，Iseemedtohavereceivedalessonandacompliment。
　　“Ithankyou。”Isaid。“Ifeelyouhavesaidasmuchaspossible，andmorethanIhadanyrighttoask。Itakethatasamarkofconfidence，whichIwilltrytodeserve。Ihope，sir，youwillletmeregardyouasafriend。”
　　Heevadedmyprofferedfriendshipwithabluntproposaltorejointhemess；andyetamomentlater，contrivedtoalleviatethesnub。For，asweenteredthesmoking-room，helaidhishandonmyshoulderwithakindfamiliarity。
　　“IhavejustprescribedforMr。Dodd。”sayshe，“aglassofourMadeira。”
　　IhaveneveragainmetDr。Urquart：buthewrotehimselfsoclearuponmymemorythatIthinkIseehimstill。AndindeedIhadcausetorememberthemanforthesakeofhiscommunication。ItwashardenoughtomakeatheoryfitthecircumstancesoftheFlyingScud；butoneinwhichthechiefactorshouldstandtheleastexcused，andmightretaintheesteemoratleastthepityofamanlikeDr。Urquart，failedmeutterly。Hereatleastwastheendofmydiscoveries；Ilearnednomore，tillIlearnedall；andmyreaderhastheevidencecomplete。IshemoreastutethanIwas？or，likeme，doeshegiveitup？
　　IhavesaidhardwordsofSanFrancisco；theymustscarcebeliterallyunderstoodonecannotsupposetheIsraelitesdidjusticetothelandofPharaoh；andthecitytookafinerevengeofmeonmyreturn。Shehadneverwornamorebecomingguise；thesunshone，theairwaslively，thepeoplehadflowersintheirbutton-holesandsmilesupontheirfaces；andasImademywaytowardsJim’splaceofemployment，withsomeveryblackanxietiesatheart，Iseemedtomyselfablotonthesurroundinggaiety。
　　Mydestinationwasinaby-streetinamean，ricketybuilding；
　　“TheFranklinH。DodgeSteamPrintingCompany“appeareduponitsfront，andincharactersofgreaterfreshness，soastosuggestrecentconversion，thewatch-cry，“WhiteLabourOnly。”
　　Intheoffice，inadustypen，Jimsatalonebeforeatable。A
　　wretchedchangehadovertakenhiminclothes，body，andbearing；helookedsickandshabby；hewhohadoncerejoicedinhisday’semployment，likeahorseamongpastures，nowsatstaringonacolumnofaccounts，idlychewingapen，attimesheavilysighing，thepictureofinefficiencyandinattention。Hewassunkdeepinapainfulreverie；heneithersawnorheardme；andIstoodandwatchedhimunobserved。Ihadasuddenvainrelenting。Repentancebludgeonedme。AsIhadpredictedtoNares，Istoodandkickedmyself。HerewasIcomehomeagain，myhonoursaved；therewasmyfriendinwantofrest，nursing，andagenerousdiet；andIaskedmyselfwithFalstaff，“Whatisinthatwordhonour？whatisthathonour？”and，likeFalstaff，Itoldmyselfthatitwasair。
　　“Jim！”saidI。
　　“Loudon！”hegasped，andjumpedfromhischairandstoodshaking。
　　ThenextmomentIwasoverthebarrier，andwewerehandinhand。
　　“Mypooroldman！”Icried。
　　“ThankGod，you’rehomeatlast！”hegulped，andkeptpattingmyshoulderwithhishand。
　　“I’venogoodnewsforyou，Jim！”saidI。
　　“You’vecome——that’sthegoodnewsthatIwant。”hereplied。
　　“O，howI’velongedforyou，Loudon！”
　　“Icouldn’tdowhatyouwroteme。”Isaid，loweringmyvoice。
　　“Thecreditorshaveitall。Icouldn’tdoit。”
　　“Ssh！”returnedJim。“Iwascrazywhenwrote。IcouldneverhavelookedMamieinthefaceifwehaddoneit。O，Loudon，whatagiftthatwomanis！Youthinkyouknowsomethingoflife：youjustdon’tknowanything。It’stheGOODNESSofthewoman，it’sarevelation！”
　　“That’sallright。”saidI。“That’showIhopedtohearyou，Jim。”
　　“AndsotheFlyingScudwasafraud。”heresumed。“Ididn’tquiteunderstandyourletter，butImadeoutthat。”
　　“Fraudisamildtermforit。”saidI。“Thecreditorswillneverbelievewhatfoolswewere。Andthatremindsme。”I
　　continued，rejoicinginthetransition，“howaboutthebankruptcy？”
　　“Youwereluckytobeoutofthat。”answeredJim，shakinghishead；“youwereluckynottoseethepapers。The_Occidental_
　　calledmeafifth-rateKerbstonebrokerwithwateronthebrain；
　　anothersaidIwasatree-frogthathadgotintothesamemeadowwithLonghurst，andhadblownmyselfouttillIwentpop。Itwasroughonamaninhishoneymoon；sowaswhattheysaidaboutmylooks，andwhatIhadon，andthewayI
　　perspired。ButIbracedmyselfupwiththeFlyingScud。Howdiditexactlyfigureoutanyway？Idon’tseemtocatchontothatstory，Loudon。”
　　“Thedevilyoudon’t！”thinksItomyself；andthenaloud：“Youseewehadneitheroneofusgoodluck。Ididn’tdomuchmorethancovercurrentexpenses；andyougotflooredimmediately。