"I am off to America on Friday next." "What off to America?" "Yes; I'm not joking." "Are you really serious? Fancy, going to America this time of the year, at the end of November It must be very important business which takes you there Can't you send some one else? You know Clara won't consider her firstborn properly baptized if you don't stand godfather to him. That ceremony is to take place next Sunday." "Unfortunately it is important business-very important business-that only I can undertake. I am awfully sorry to disappoint your wife, but I must go." This conversation took place in Monk's sitting-room. It was my usual habit, on leaving my office at seven o'clock, to go up to Monk's rooms and have a chat with him, and sometimes persuade him to come home with me.