"
"Yes? What's his name?"
"Cathcart."
He glanced up at the clock.
"Good Lord," he said, "ten to one."
Then he was gone.
* * * * *
Laurie was far too exalted to be much depressed by this counsel's
opinion; and had, indeed, several minutes of delightful meditation on
the crass complacency of a clever man when taken off his ground. It
was deplorable, he said to himself, that men should be so content with
their limitations. But it was always the way, he reflected. To be a
specialist in one point involved the pruning of all growth on every
other. Here was Morton, almost in the front rank of his particular
subject, and, besides, very far from being a bookworm; yet, when taken
an inch out of his rut, he could do nothing but flounder. He wondered
what Morton would make of these things if he saw them himself.
In the course of the afternoon Morton himself turned up again. The
case had ended unexpectedly soon. Laurie waited till the closing of
the shutters offered an opportunity for a break in the work, and once
more returned to the charge.
"Morton," he said, "I wish you'd come with me one day."
The other looked up.
"Eh?"
"To see for yourself what I told you.
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