James Lauder looked at the hard-faced little man and allowed himself to wonder how far his patient had encouraged kindness.
A pause.
"I think I'll go home," said Peter Reid.
"The servant will call you a taxi. Where do you live?"
Peter Reid looked at the doctor as if he hardly understood.
"Live?" he said. "Oh, in Prince's Gate. But that isn't home…. I'm going to Scotland."
"Ah," said James Lauder, "now you're talking. What part of Scotland is 'home' to you?"
"A place they call Priorsford. I was born there."
"I know it. I've fished all round there. A fine countryside."
Interest lit for a moment the dull grey eyes of Peter Reid.