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chances。 Anyway；〃 he repeated； as though disposing of all
argument； 〃I got to make expenses。〃
After dinner； when I came to the smoking…room； the poker party
sat waiting； and one of them asked if I knew where they could
find 〃my friend。〃 I should have said then that Talbot was a
steamer acquaintance only； but I hate a row； and I let the
chance pass。
〃We want to give him his revenge；〃 one of them volunteered。
〃He's losing； then？〃 I asked。
The man chuckled complacently。
〃The only loser；〃 he said。
〃I wouldn't worry；〃 I advised。 〃He'll come for his revenge。〃
That night after I had turned in he knocked at my door。 I
switched on the lights and saw him standing at the foot of my
berth。 I saw also that with difficulty he was holding himself in
hand。
〃I'm scared；〃 he stammered； 〃scared！〃
I wrote out a requisition on the surgeon for a sleeping…potion
and sent it to him by the steward； giving the man to understand I
wanted it for myself。 Uninvited； Talbot had seated himself on the
sofa。 His eyes were closed； and as though he were cold he was
shivering and hugging himself in his arms。
〃Have you been drinking？〃 I asked。
In surprise he opened his eyes。
〃I can't drink；〃 he answered simply。 〃It's nerves and worry。 I'm
tired。〃
He relaxed against the cushions； his arms fell heavily at his
sides； the fingers lay open。
〃God；〃 he whispered； 〃how tired I am！〃
In spite of his tanand certainly he had led the out…of…door
lifehis face showed white。 For the moment he looked old； worn；
finished。
〃They're crowdin' me；〃 the boy whispered。 〃They're always
crowdin' me。〃 His voice was querulous； uncomprehending； like
that of a child complaining of something beyond his experience。
〃I can't remember when they haven't been crowdin' me。 Movin' me
on； you understand？ Always movin' me on。 Moved me out of India；
then Cairo； then they closed Paris； and now they've shut me out
of London。 I opened a club there； very quiet； very exclusive；
smart neighborhood； tooa flat in Berkeley Streetroulette and
chemin de fer。 I think it was my valet sold me out； anyway； they
came in and took us all to Bow Street。 So I've plunged on this。
It's my last chance！〃
〃This trip？〃
〃No； my family in New York。 Haven't seen 'em in ten years。 They
paid me to live abroad。 I'm gambling on THEM； gambling on their
takin' me back。 I'm coming home as the Prodigal Son； tired of
filling my belly with the husks that the swine do eat； reformed
character； repentant and all that； want to follow the straight
and narrow； and they'll kill the fatted calf。〃 He laughed
sardonically。 〃Like hell they will！ They'd rather see ME killed。〃
It seemed to me； if he wished his family to believe he were
returning repentant； his course in the smoking…room would not
help to reassure them。 I suggested as much。
〃If you get into 'trouble；' as you call it；〃 I said； 〃and they
send a wireless to the police to be at the wharf； your people
would hardly〃
〃I know；〃 he interrupted； 〃but I got to chance that。 I GOT to
make enough to go on withuntil I see my family。〃
〃If they won't see you？〃 I asked。 〃What then？〃
He shrugged his shoulders and sighed lightly； almost with relief；
as though for him the prospect held no terror。
〃Then it's 'Good…night； nurse；'〃 he said。 〃And I won't be a
bother to anybody any more。〃
I told him his nerves were talking； and talking rot； and I gave
him the sleeping…draft and sent him to bed。
It was not until after luncheon the next day when he made his
first appearance on deck that I again saw my patient。 He was once
more a healthy picture of a young Englishman of leisure； keen；
smart； and fit； ready for any exercise or sport。 The particular
sport at which he was so expert I asked him to avoid。
〃Can't be done！〃 he assured me。 〃I'm the loser； and we dock
to…morrow morning。 So tonight I've got to make my killing。〃
It was the others who made the killing。
I came into the smoking…room about nine o'clock。 Talbot alone was
seated。 The others were on their feet； and behind them in a wider
semicircle were passengers； the smoking…room stewards and the
ship's purser。
Talbot sat with his back against the bulkhead； his hands in the
pockets of his dinner coat； from the corner of his mouth his long
cigarette…holder was cocked at an impudent angle。 There was a
tumult of angry voices； and the eyes of all were turned upon him。
Outwardly at least he met them with complete indifference。 The
voice of one of my countrymen； a noisy pest named Smedburg； was
raised in excited accusation。
〃When the ship's surgeon first met you；〃 he cried； 〃you called
yourself Lord Ridley。〃
〃I'll call myself anything I jolly well like；〃 returned Talbot。
〃If I choose to dodge reporters； that's my pidgin。 I don't have
to give my name to every meddling busybody that〃
〃You'll give it to the police； all right；〃 chortled Mr。 Smedburg。
In the confident； bullying tones of the man who knows the crowd
is with him； he shouted： 〃And in the meantime you'll keep out of
this smoking…room！〃
The chorus of assent was unanimous。 It could not be disregarded。
Talbot rose and with fastidious concern brushed the cigarette
ashes from his sleeve。 As he moved toward the door he called
back： 〃Only too delighted to keep out。 The crowd in this room
makes a gentleman feel lonely。〃
But he was not to escape with the last word。
His prosecutor pointed his finger at him。
〃And the next time you take the name of Adolph Meyer；〃 he
shouted； 〃make sure first he hasn't a friend on board； some one
to protect him from sharpers and swindlers〃
Talbot turned savagely and then shrugged his shoulders。
〃Oh； go to the devil！〃 he called； and walked out into the night。
The purser was standing at my side and； catching my eye； shook
his head。
〃Bad business；〃 he exclaimed。
〃What happened？〃 I asked。
〃I'm told they caught him dealing from the wrong end of the
pack；〃 he said。 〃I understand they suspected him from the
firstseems our surgeon recognized himand to…night they had
outsiders watching him。 The outsiders claim they saw him slip
himself an ace from the bottom of the pack。 It's a pity！ He's a
nice…looking lad。〃
I asked what the excited Smedburg had meant by telling Talbot not
to call himself Meyer。
〃They accused him of travelling under a false name；〃 explained
the purser； 〃and he told 'em he did it to dodge the ship's news
reporters。 Then he said he really was a brother of Adolph Meyer；
the banker； but it seems Smedburg is a friend of Meyer's； and he
called him hard！ It was a silly ass thing to do；〃 protested the
purser。 〃Everybody knows Meyer hasn't a brother； and if he hadn't
made THAT break he might have got away with the other one。 But
now this Smedburg is going to wireless ahead to Mr。 Meyer and to
the police。〃
〃Has he no other way of spending his money？〃 I asked。
〃He's a confounded nuisance！〃 growled the purser。 〃He wants to
show us he knows Adolph Meyer； wants to put Meyer under an
obligation。 It means a scene on the wharf； and newspaper talk；
and；〃 he added with disgust； 〃these smoking…room rows never
helped any line。〃
I went in search of Talbot； partly because I knew he was o