Mr. Snaith, still unconvinced, hesitated, then assented, halting a brief
distance from Maitland and toying abstractedly with his cane while the
young man plucked at the draw-string.

"Deuced tight knot, this," commented Maitland, annoyed.

"No matter. Don't trouble, please. I'm quite satisfied, believe me."

"Oh, you are!"

Maitland turned; and in the act of turning, the loaded head of the cane
landed with crushing force upon his temple.

For an instant he stood swaying, eyes closed, face robbed of every vestige
of color, deep lines of agony graven in his forehead and about his mouth;
then fell like a lifeless thing, limp and invertebrate.

The _soi-disant_ Mr. Snaith caught him and let him gently and without sound
to the floor.

"Poor fool!" he commented, kneeling to make a hasty examination. "Hope I
haven't done for him.... It would be the first time.... Bad precedent!...
So! He's all right--conscious within an hour.... Too soon!" he added,
standing and looking down. "Well, turn about's fair play."

He swung on his heel and entered the hallway, pausing at the door long
enough to shoot the bolt; then passed hastily through the other chambers,
searching, to judge by his manner.

In the end a closed door attracted him; he jerked it open, with an