“No, thank you. I only smoke with my friends.”

“What am I to understand by that?” asked Tarbot. As he spoke he looked Dick full in the face.

“I thought we were friends,” continued Tarbot after a moment’s pause.

“No,” answered Dick. “I must be frank at a moment like the present. I dislike you, Dr. Tarbot. I have an antipathy to you—what is more, I distrust you.”

“You must give me a reason for those last words. Why do you distrust me?”

“I intend to speak fully. The child’s death has distressed me much. Yesterday I got a copy of the certificate.”

“Why?”

“Because I am not satisfied with the reason you gave for the death.”

“Did you ever qualify as a medical man?”

“Never; but I use my common sense, and I repeat that I am not satisfied with the reason you gave for the death.”