place and let you know, so as not to keep you in suspense."

"You're very good," said Halibut, with some emotion; "but I think I'll
take to-day, because I have every reason to believe that I have got one
of my bilious attacks coming on to-morrow."

"Pooh! fancy, my dear fellow," said the Major, heartily; "I never saw you
look better in my life."

"That's one of the chief signs," replied Halibut, shaking his head. "I'm
afraid I must go to-day."

"I really cannot waive my right on account of your bilious attack," said
the Major haughtily.

"Your right?" said Halibut, with spirit.

"My right!" repeated the other. "I should have been there before you if
you had not stopped me in the first place."

"But I started first," said Halibut.

"Prove it," exclaimed the Major, warmly.

The other shrugged his shoulders.

"I shall certainly not give way," he said, calmly. "This is a matter in
which my whole future is concerned. It seems very odd, not to say
inconvenient, that you should have chosen the same day as myself, Brill,
for such an errand--very odd."