He was obviously startled and perturbed. He shifted some papers on his table, and his lips were not quite steady as he looked up at me.
“Quarry and skill!” said he. “This sounds all very formidable, Gaskett. I will not ask to see the letter, since you wish it, but——”
“I believe, sir,” I said impulsively, “that the man was a villain.”
He buried his face in his hands a minute.
“What do you want me to do?” he said suddenly. “When do you propose enlightening me?”
“When I have my case, sir.” He smiled faintly. “I ask you in the meantime to accept me for your counsel, and to believe that it is your interests alone which I have at heart.”
A longish silence ensued. Then he sighed.
“It is all very mysterious; but—have it as you will. You—you won’t, I trust, keep me longer than necessary in this state of suspense?”
Though he essayed to dismiss the matter lightly, I knew that I had greatly disturbed him. The dogs of doubt, of suspicion, of some formless apprehension, were awake in him. It grieved me to the soul so to leave him; but I felt that for the moment I had no choice. I must at least face his unhappy wife, offer her the chance of defence, explanation, before I decided upon my course.
I found Johnny triumphant in the completion of his code. It was, numerically, simplicity itself; but the ingenuity of its parts was devastating. Thus, for example, Dalston was Dalston junction, was points, was a pointer, was a dog. Therefore Dog represented Dalston.