bed. My sister-in-law is also, I regret to say, indisposed. She
desired me to present her excuses to you and say how greatly she
is looking forward to making your acquaintance during the next few
days."

Hamel bowed.

"It is very kind of Mrs. Fentolin," he murmured.

"On these occasions," Mr. Fentolin continued, "we do not make use
of a drawing-room. My niece will come in here presently. You are
looking at my books, I see. Are you, by any chance, a bibliophile?
I have a case of manuscripts here which might interest you."

Hamel shook his head.

"Only in the abstract, I fear," he answered. "I have scarcely
opened a serious book since I was at Oxford."

"What was your year?" Mr. Fentolin asked.

"Fourteen years ago I left Magdalen," Hamel replied. "I had made
up my mind to be an engineer, and I went over to the Boston
Institute of Technology."

Mr. Fentolin nodded appreciatively.

"A magnificent profession," he murmured. "A healthy one, too, I
should judge from your appearance. You are a strong man, Mr. Hamel."