“Not yet.”
“Who will search him?”
“Two men of the company have been selected.”
Challenger sniffed his suspicions.
“Which men?” he asked.
“It is suggested that you and your friend, Mr. Nicholl, shall do so. There is a bedroom next door.”
Poor Linden was marched off between them in a manner which reminded him unpleasantly of his prison experiences. He had been nervous before but this ordeal and the overpowering presence of Challenger made him still more so. He shook his head mournfully at Mailey when he reappeared.
“I doubt we will get nothing to-day. Maybe it would be wise to postpone the sitting,” said he.
Mailey came round and patted him on the shoulder, while Mrs. Linden took his hand.
“It’s all right, Tom,” said Mailey. “Remember that you have a bodyguard of friends round you who won’t see you ill used.” Then Mailey spoke to Challenger in a sterner way than was his wont. “I beg you to remember, sir, that a medium is as delicate an instrument as any to be found in your laboratories. Do not abuse it. I presume that you found nothing compromising upon his person?”