He handed me the board and the lamp, and, when I had slipped them into my pocket, we shook hands and I hurried away, a little uneasy at having left my charge so long.

Chapter III

“A Chiel’s Amang Ye Takin’ Notes”

The attitude of the suspicious man tends to generate in others the kind of conduct that seems to justify his suspicions.  In most of us there lurks a certain strain of mischief which trustfulness disarms but distrust encourages.  The inexperienced kitten which approaches us confidingly with arched back and upright tail, soliciting caresses, generally receives the gentle treatment that it expects; whereas the worldly-wise tom-cat, who, in response to friendly advances, scampers away and grins at us suspiciously from the fancied security of an adjacent wall, impels us to accelerate his retreat with a well-directed clod.

Now the proceedings of Mr. H. Weiss resembled those of the tom-cat aforesaid and invited an analogous reply.  To a responsible professional man his extraordinary precautions were at once an affront and a challenge.  Apart from graver considerations, I found myself dwelling with unholy pleasure on the prospect of locating the secret hiding-place from which he seemed to grin at me with such complacent defiance; and I lost no time and spared no trouble in preparing myself for the adventure.  The very hansom which bore me from the Temple to Kennington Lane was utilized for a preliminary test of Thorndyke’s little apparatus.  During the whole of that brief journey I watched the compass closely, noted the feel and sound of the road-material and timed the trotting of the horse.  And the result was quite encouraging.  It is true that the compass-needle oscillated wildly to the vibration of the cab, but still its oscillations took place around a definite point which was the average direction, and it was evident to me that the data it furnished were very fairly reliable.  I felt very little doubt, after the preliminary trial, as to my being able to produce a moderately intelligible track-chart if only I should get an opportunity to exercise my skill.

But it looked as if I should not.  Mr. Weiss’s promise to send for me again soon was not fulfilled.  Three days passed and still he made no sign.  I began to fear that I had been too outspoken; that the shuttered carriage had gone forth to seek some more confiding and easy-going practitioner, and that our elaborate preparations had been made in vain.  When the fourth day drew towards a close and still no summons had come, I was disposed reluctantly to write the case off as a lost opportunity.

And at that moment, in the midst of my regrets, the bottle-boy thrust an uncomely head in at the door.  His voice was coarse, his accent was hideous, and his grammatical construction beneath contempt; but I forgave him all when I gathered the import of his message.

“Mr. Weiss’s carriage is waiting, and he says will you come as quickly as you can because he’s took very bad to-night.”