Ferguson opened, in person.

"Dick! you here?" he exclaimed, but with no great
expression of surprise, after all.

"Dick himself!" was the response.

"What, my dear boy, you at London, and this the
mid-season of the winter shooting?"

"Yes! here I am, at London!"

"And what have you come to town for?"

"To prevent the greatest piece of folly that ever was
conceived."

"Folly!" said the doctor.

"Is what this paper says, the truth?" rejoined Kennedy,
holding out the copy of the Daily Telegraph, mentioned above.

"Ah! that's what you mean, is it? These newspapers
are great tattlers! But, sit down, my dear Dick."

"No, I won't sit down!--Then, you really intend to
attempt this journey?"

"Most certainly! all my preparations are getting along
finely, and I--"