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If Carmichael let his colleagues in for a late sitting, at least he made amends for it himself by unwontedly early rising. Reeves found him fully dressed when, pyjamaed himself, he set out for his morning bath.

"What on earth are you doing," he asked, "wandering about at this hour?"

"Well, you see," said Carmichael, "I had to go and clear up your room before the housemaid came in. Housemaids don't like chewing-gum on their boots." And with this partial explanation Reeves had to be satisfied till they sat down to smoke a pipe after breakfast in a secluded corner of the lounge.

"For Heaven's sake let's have an explanation," he urged. "There's a chewing-gum motif running through life at present which is worrying me more than I can say."

"I don't mind about that," said Gordon; "what worries me is Carmichael being up and dressed at half-past seven."

"Well, if you prefer it, let us put it this way," said Carmichael. "I had to get up early, Reeves,