Hamel, however, still refused to take the hint.  His eyes were fixed upon that closed door.

“Mr. Fentolin,” he asked, “have you any objection to my seeing Mr. Dunster?”

There was a moment’s intense silence.  A sudden light had burned in Mr. Fentolin’s eyes.  His fingers gripped the side of his chair.  Yet when he spoke there were no signs of anger in his tone.  It was a marvellous effort of self-control.

“There is no reason, Mr. Hamel,” he said, “why your curiosity should not be gratified.  Knock softly at the door, Gerald.”

The boy obeyed.  In a moment or two Doctor Sarson appeared on the threshold.

“Our guest, Mr. Hamel,” Mr. Fentolin explained in a whisper, “has been awakened by this poor fellow’s cry.  He would like to see him for a moment.”

Doctor Sarson opened the door.  They all passed in on tiptoe.  The doctor led the way towards the bed upon which Mr. Dunster was lying, quite still.  His head was bandaged, and his eyes closed.  His face was ghastly.  Gerald gave vent to a little muttered exclamation.  Mr. Fentolin turned to him quickly.

“Gerald!”

The boy stood still, trembling, speechless.  Mr. Fentolin’s eyes were riveted upon him.  The doctor was standing, still and dark, a motionless image.

“Is he asleep?” Hamel asked.

“He is under the influence of a mild anaesthetic,” Doctor Sarson explained.  “He is doing very well.  His case is quite simple.  By to-morrow morning he will be able to sit up and walk about if he wishes to.”

Hamel looked steadily at the figure upon the bed.  Mr. Dunster’s breathing was regular, and his eyes were closed, but his colour was ghastly.

“He doesn’t look like getting up for a good many days to come,” Hamel observed.

The doctor led the way towards the door.

“The man has a fine constitution,” he said.  “I feel sure that if you wish you will be able to talk to him to-morrow.”

They separated outside in the passage.  Mr. Fentolin bade his guest a somewhat restrained good night, and Gerald mounted the staircase to his room.  Hamel, however, had scarcely reached his door before Gerald reappeared.  He had descended the stair-case at the other end of the corridor.  He stood for a moment looking down the passage.  The doors were all closed.  Even the light had been extinguished.

“May I come in for a moment, please?” he whispered.

Hamel nodded.

“With pleasure!  Come in and have a cigarette if you will.  I shan’t feel like sleep for some time.”

They entered the room, and Gerald threw himself into an easy-chair near the window.  Hamel wheeled up another chair and produced a box of cigarettes.

“Queer thing your dropping across that fellow in the way you did,” he remarked.  “Just shows how one may disappear from the world altogether, and no one be a bit the wiser.”