Yet he had given Reuben something like a positive assurance that there
would be an adequate defence, and had expressed his own positive
conviction of the accused man's innocence. But Thorndyke was not a man
to reach such a conviction through merely sentimental considerations.
The inevitable conclusion was that he had something up his sleeve--that
he had gained possession of some facts that had escaped my observation;
and when I had reached this point I knocked out my pipe and betook
myself to bed.




CHAPTER IX

THE PRISONER


On the following morning, as I emerged from my room, I met Polton coming
up with a tray (our bedrooms were on the attic floor above the
laboratory and workshop), and I accordingly followed him into my
friend's chamber.

"I shan't go out to-day," said Thorndyke, "though I shall come down
presently. It is very inconvenient, but one must accept the inevitable.
I have had a knock on the head, and, although I feel none the worse, I
must take the proper precautions--rest and a low diet--until I see that
no results are going to follow. You can attend to the scalp wound and
send round the necessary letters, can't you?"

I expressed my willingness to do all that was required and applauded my