“‘She can hand in her checks if you get either,’ said he. ‘She’ll be hanged by the neck without even a run for her money.’
“‘Well, you can’t get “silk” for twenty guineas,’ said I; ‘and you can’t get a really useful junior.’
“Now, here follows another of the ‘peculiar’ circumstances. Suddenly the wild Irishman lifted himself in his bed, and again there was that odd look in his eyes.
“‘I’ll tell you who you can get,’ said he; ‘he’s come to me in a flash. Get that fellow Northcote.’
“‘Northcote?’ said I; ‘never heard of him.’
“‘Never mind, get him,’ said the wild Irishman. ‘He’s young, and they say he’s mad, but he might bring us luck.’
“‘For a chap with as brilliant a set of brains as are to be found in London,’ said I, ‘you do come out with some of the oddest suggestions. How did you come to think of this fellow Northcote, when you won’t allow Harris and Westby to be good enough?’
“‘Oh,’ said he, ‘he’s one of my inspirations,’
“‘Inspiration my foot!’ said I. ‘I’m off to Christopher Harris.’
“Well, as I was about to go, poor Tobin raised himself again, and those queer eyes came at me in a way I don’t like.