“I should say I have not arrived any too soon,” he muttered. “Can’t tell what the professor might take a fancy to do if he is acting that way.”
“I hab been berry scat ob him, sah!”
“I don’t wonder at that. Let me into the house without arousing anybody.”
“Dar am nobody to ’rouse ’cept de p’fessah an’ de cook. Yo’ can go right in, sah. Come on, sah.”
So Toots admitted Merry to the house, having taken the grip from him. Frank decided to go directly to the room of the professor, and mounted the stairs at once. The door of the chamber occupied by the professor was standing slightly ajar, and a light was burning within.
Frank pushed open the door and entered, stepping so lightly that he was not heard by the man.
The professor was in bed. He looked pale and careworn, and there were great hollows in his cheeks. He was not asleep, but lay gazing steadily up at the ceiling, his hands, which rested on the white spread, clasping and unclasping nervously.
There was no bitterness nor resentment in Frank’s heart, only pity as he stood there looking at the unfortunate man, for he could see that his guardian had been terribly shaken by all he had passed through. The lips of the man moved at times, but he spoke no words that Frank could hear.
After a little, the professor slowly turned his head, and his eyes rested on Frank. He did not start or show surprise.
Now Merry advanced quickly, saying: