“Why?” said Sir John, smiling.
“Sure, didn’t he say he’d make a new man of you? Don’t I want you the same as you always were? A new man, indeed!”
A merry evening was passed, but before they parted for the night the doctor said:
“I’ve asked no questions, Nic, boy; but all seems to be right.”
“Nearly, father—not quite.”
“Not quite? Well, that doesn’t sound very serious. But I want to know fully what this upset has been about the assigned servant.”
Nic briefly told of the trouble.
“Ah, well, we’ll have that over in the morning, Nic. I’m sorry, though, for I thought the man was trustworthy.”
Nic gave his father a pained look, as the doctor went on: “I shall ride over and see Dillon. Well, what next?”
“Three sheep have gone, father, one after the other.”