"And can you clear your name?" asked Jack, rather rueful that the fine theory he had built up was thus easily passed over by his chum.
"I hope to, Jack."
"Have you any new clews?" asked Bert. "I presume that's what you've been looking for?"
"Yes, I did go off hunting for them," said Tom slowly.
"Well, did you find any?" burst out Jack. "Can't you relieve the suspense?"
"I found this," said Tom, placing an empty bottle on the table.
"Why—why, there's nothing in it!" exclaimed Jack, looking at it. "How can that form a clew?"
"Not because of what is in it but what was in it," said Tom with a smile. "Unless I'm mistaken this will help to prove my innocence—that is, if the experiment I'm going to try works out. We'll soon see. I wonder if the laboratory is closed," and he went out into the corridor.