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“Too many of us in it. And, I tell you, I’m afraid to bring out a new idea–it’s pinched before you’ve had a week’s use of it. Public’s a bit off it, too. I’m doing practically nothing with the ‘alls. I train for others, and I’m trying to build up a business as a dealer. Only first-class dogs, mind.”

“That’s what I want. I came here to buy a dog.”

“Let’s see. Bulldogs were your fancy. Well, I’ve got one of the Stone breed that’s won the only time it was shown and will win again.”

“This is not for myself. It’s a present. Black poodle.”

“I see. Well, you’ve come to the right market. How far were you prepared to go?”

“Show me a really valuable dog and I will pay the real value. I’m not buying for the show-bench; but I want the best breed, good health, good temper, cleverness and training–two years old for choice.”

“Ask enough,” said Smith, smiling. “Well, if you don’t mind stepping into the yard I can fit you. I’m asking twenty guineas, and he’s worth every penny of it–he’d bring that money back, to anybody who cared to take it, before a year was out.”

The dog was shown–an aristocrat with qualities of temper and intelligence not always to be found in the aristocrat. Richard Staines thought he would be paying quite enough, but decided to pay it. He returned to the house to write his cheque.

“There you are, Mr Smith. By the way, do you remember Zero, the dog you gave me? He’s sitting in my taxi outside.”

“I remember him. He’d never win prizes for anybody–not like that poodle you’ve just bought. You couldn’t teach him anything either. But he could see ahead, that dog could.”

Smith heard how Richard Staines had been saved from the falling roof, and evinced no surprise at it at all. “Yes,” he said, “that dog always knew. Did I tell you about the milk?”

“No. What was that?”

“Me and Cowbit next door got our milk from the same man. I went out one morning to take the can in, when Zero came bullocking past me and knocked the can over. He never tried to drink the milk that was spilled, but just stood there, wagging his old tail. Mind you, sir, that was after he had saved me from the train smash. ‘Well,’ I said to him, ‘I suppose you know’; and I went in to Cowbits’ to tell them not to touch that milk. Cowbit laughed at the story, and took milk in his tea. But his missus wouldn’t have any, and wouldn’t let the baby have none either. Cowbit was ill for days and pretty near died. Mineral poison it was, from one of the milk-pans going wrong.”

“How do you suppose the dog knew?”

“Me suppose? Why, I never asked myself the question. He did know–that was all about it. Still, if I had to explain it, I should say it was some kind of an instinct.”

And Richard mercifully forebore to ask Mr Smith how he would explain that particular kind of instinct.

CHAPTER III

Richard was best-man at his partner’s wedding. He afterwards attended a crowded reception. It was too crowded; and there were far too many people there who wanted to talk to Jane Murray. She was popular, and there was a group round her all the time. Not for five minutes could Richard get her to himself. It was this selfishness on the part of others which depressed him, not the reception champagne, which was no worse than is usual on such occasions.

The crowds bored him and when he got back to his flat the solitude bored him. Not even Zero was there. Richard’s valet had taken the dog out for exercise; this had been done in obedience to Richard’s own orders, but it now seemed to him in the light of a grievance. The grievance became more acute when his servant returned without the dog.