"William Thompson, they told me."
"If he is a sailor, he probably has a dozen aliases," interposed
Mr. Clapp, who had been listening very attentively.
"By-the-bye, Clapp, they say he included you in his kind wishes."
"Yes, sir, so I understand."
"William, you never mentioned it to me!" said his wife.
"No, my dear; I did not attach any importance to the story," replied the lawyer, pulling out his handkerchief with one hand, and running the other through his hair—looking a little nervous and uneasy, notwithstanding.
"He did not exactly threaten you, Mr. Clapp, while I was with him," said the doctor; "he seemed rather to depend upon you as an ally."
"Still more singular," said Mr. Clapp, with a glance at Mr.
Wyllys.
"That was very strange!" exclaimed his wife—"what could the man mean?"
"It is by no means easy to explain the meaning of a drunken man, my dear. It is just possible he may have heard my name as a man of business. I have had several sailors for clients, and one quite recently, staying at the same tavern."