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
ownedthatthenavyofoldEnglandwas(forme)invincibleasofyore；andgivingupallthoughtofthedoctor，inclinedtosaluteherveteranflag，inthefuture，fromaprudentdistance。
Suchwasmyinclination，whenIretiredtorest；andmyfirstexperiencethenextmorningstrengthenedittocertainty。ForI
hadthepleasureofencounteringmyfairantagonistonhiswayonboard；andhehonouredmewitharecognitionsodisgustinglydry，thatmyimpatienceoverflowed，and(recallingthetacticsofNelson)Ineglectedtoperceiveortoreturnit。
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
begintosuspectthat(liketheladyinthesong)youareanother’s。Youhavementionedyouradventure，myfriend；youhavebeenblownup；youhavegotyourorders；thisnotehasbeendictated；andIamaskedonboard(inspiteofyourmelancholyprotests)nottomeetthemen，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，when(uponasuddenimpulse)Iburnedmyships，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；theymustscarcebeliterallyunderstood(onecannotsupposetheIsraelitesdidjusticetothelandofPharaoh)；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。
