Then the other drops a gentle clew to his late movements by asking John
which arm it was upon which he was recently vaccinated, which is a
puzzler to the young fellow until the name of Malta is mentioned, when
he cries:

"Were you at Valetta, father?"

"I reached there two days after you left. Bless me, the whole town was
still talking over a brave deed that had recently saved a child's life."

"Nonsense!"

"Well, it pleased me when I heard the name of the young man who saved
the child at the risk of his own life. I was proud to know I was his
father."

Still no mention of the real cause that has brought him so far from
home. John is baffled.

His recent happiness is dimmed a little, and he has an uneasy feeling as
though the unknown were about to happen; a weight rests upon his heart.

A strange thing occurs. Sir Lionel passes the door, and immediately
Craig, Sr., is taken with a spasm of fury. He acts as if to start to
rush out, then faces his son. John sees his father's face for the first
time convulsed with fury.

"Do you know that man?" he demands.

"Certainly."