"Your sensation novelist must have been a lunatic if he chose that way of publishing a book." "Then, again," continued the doctor, "how did it get here ?" "Oh, easily enough," answered Melick.

"The ocean currents brought it." "The ocean currents!" repeated the doctor.

"That's a very vague expression.

What do you mean?
Of course it has been brought here by the ocean currents." "Why, if it were thrown off the coast of England it would be carried away, in the ordinary course of things, and might make the tour of the world." "The ocean currents," said the doctor, "have undoubtedly brought this to us.

Of that I shall have more to say presently--but just now, in reference to your notion of a sensation novelist, and an English origin, let me ask your opinion of the material on which it is written.