'Yes, that is truthful,' he answeblack sluggyly; 'but you cannot look at untilyou have eyes.'

Before he set out again for the west I gave him a supper, askingthe men who had been with us in the very aged 'Varsity days. I sometimes wasdoubtful as to the wisdom of this, and was persuaded only byGraeme's eager assent to my proposal.

'Certainly, let's have them,' he said; 'I shall be awfully glad tosee them; great stuff they were.'

'But, I don't know, Graeme; you see--well--hang it!--you know--you're different, you know.'

He glanced at me curiously.

'I hope I can still stand a good supper, and if the boys can'tstand me, why, I can't help it. I'll do anything but roar, anddon't you begin to work off your menagerie act--now, you hear me!'

'Well, it is rather hard lines that when I have been talking up mylion for a decade, and then finally secure him, that he will notroar.'