Shading his eyes, he stared out at the approaching boat.
"Yes," he said. "It's Dr. Manning."
If he had said it was the devil his tone could scarcely have been
more appropriate, and both Ross and I looked up in amazement at the
renewed churlishness of his manner.
"Dr. Manning!" I repeated. "I thought he was in London."
Bascomb whistled to the dog, who trotted up obediently to his side.
"'E may 'ave bin there for all I know. 'E come back last night
anyway. I seen 'im goin' across to the barge."
There was a short pause.
"Well, I suppose we'd better get along and meet him," I said dryly.
"I know he wants to have a talk with me, and I can't very well say
I'm not at home."
To this Bascomb returned no answer. He fell in behind Ross and me,
with Satan at his heels, and in this order we advanced across the
strip of salting which still separated us from the landing-stage.
We reached our destination at almost the same moment as the boat.
Its owner brought it up alongside with a skill which showed him to be
a practised hand, and, switching off his engine, leaned over and
caught hold of the ring.
I don't know exactly what I had expected, but my first impression of
him was a distinctly surprising one. He was a man who would have
attracted attention anywhere, if only for his unusual good looks.
Except on one of the early Greek coins, I don't think I have ever
seen features so extraordinarily well cut. His face was burned to
the colour of old mahogany, and against this dark background a pair
of china blue eyes looked out with a curious and almost disconcerting
brilliance. He was wearing flannels and the usual white yachting
cap, and as far as age went he might have been anything between forty
and forty-five.
"How do you do?" he said pleasantly. "I suppose I'm right in taking
you for Mr. Dryden? I'm Dr. Manning."
"You're quite right," I answered, "and I'm very glad to see you.
Won't you come ashore?"
He stepped up lightly out of the boat, and shook my hand with a grip
that certainly lacked nothing in heartiness.
"I spotted you from my barge," he went on, "so I thought I would come
over and introduce myself. I have been looking forward to meeting
you for some little while."
"I was half-expecting to hear from you in London," I said. "Mr.
Drayton told me that he had given you my address." I paused. "Let
me introduce you to a brother professional," I added. "Dr. Ross, of
the _Neptune_."