The fellow's manner gave me pause. He was patently and beyond the pride of concealment terrified.
"What do you see?" I repeated stubbornly.
"It isn't that I see, but I know. The cell's not empty!"
I stared at him in considerable wonderment.
"I will make inquiries," I said. "You may take that for a promise. If the cell proves empty, you stop where you are."
I noticed that he dropped his hands with a lost gesture as I left him. I was sufficiently moved to accost the warder who awaited me on the spot.
"Johnson," I said, "is that cell—"
"Empty, sir," answered the man sharply and at once.
Before I could respond, F—— came suddenly to the door, which I still held open.
"You lying cur!" he shouted. "You damned lying cur!"