“Still unconscious,” he reported.  “Otherwise, the symptoms are favourable.  He is quite unfit,” the doctor added, looking steadily at the inspector, “to be removed or questioned.”

“There is no idea of anything of the sort,” Mr. Fentolin explained.  “It is Inspector Yardley’s duty to satisfy himself that Mr. Dunster is here.  It is necessary for the inspector to see your patient, so that he can make his report at headquarters.”

Doctor Sarson bowed.

“That is quite simple, sir,” he said.  “Please step in.”

They all entered the room, which was large and handsomely furnished.  Through the open windows came a gentle current of fresh air.  Mr. Dunster lay in the midst of all the luxury of fine linen sheets and embroidered pillow-cases.  The inspector looked at him stolidly.

“Is he asleep?” he asked.

The doctor shook his head.

“It is the third day of his concussion,” he whispered.  “He is still unconscious.  He will remain in the same condition for another two days.  After that he will begin to recover.”

Mr. Fentolin touched the inspector on the arm.

“You see his clothing at the foot of the bed,” he pointed out.  “His linen is marked with his name.  That is his dressing-case with his name painted on it.”

“I am quite satisfied, sir,” the inspector announced.  “I will not intrude any further.”

They left the room.  Mr. Fentolin himself escorted the inspector into the library and ordered whisky and cigars.

“I don’t know whether I am unreasonably curious,” Mr. Fentolin remarked, “but is it really true that you have had enquiries from Scotland Yard about the poor fellow up-stairs?”

“We had a very important enquiry indeed, sir,” the inspector replied.  “I have instructions to telegraph all I have been able to discover, immediately.”

“Pardon my putting it plainly,” Mr. Fentolin asked, “but is our friend a criminal?”

“I wouldn’t go so far as that, sir,” the inspector answered.  “I know of no charge against him.  I don’t know that I have the right to say so much,” he added, sipping his whisky and soda, “but putting two and two together, I should rather come to the conclusion that he was a person of some political importance.”

“Not a criminal at all?”

“Not as I know of,” the inspector assented. 
“That isn’t the way I read the enquiries at all.”

“You relieve me,” Mr. Fentolin declared.  “Now what about his possessions?”

“There’s a man coming down shortly from Scotland Yard,” the inspector announced, a little gloomily.  “My orders were to touch nothing, but to locate him.”

“Well, you’ve succeeded so far,” Mr. Fentolin remarked.  “Here he is, and here I think he will stay until some days after your friend from Scotland Yard can get here.”

“It does seem so, indeed,” the inspector agreed.  “To me he looks terrible ill.  But there’s one thing sure, he’s having all the care and attention that’s possible.  And now, sir, I’ll not intrude further upon your time.  I’ll just make my report, and you’ll probably have a visit from the Scotland Yard man sometime within the next few days.”