"Ah, you have some idea!" he cried.
"Nothing, except that it may be useful to—have two Harrys in the house. Allowing time for this, you should be at the box hedge by eight. That shall be the appointed hour."
"But what shall I tell Jim?"
"Jim is the name of the groom? Tell him that it may be in his power to save his master from great peril. Harry is liked by his servants, is he not? All that we know at present is that he must wait in the box hedge with you in case we need him. But supposing he is swiftly and secretly needed, how are we to get him into the house?"
"By the secret passage within," said Geoffrey, quick as an echo.
"Good again. It looks as if the Luck was with us. And this passage comes out at the back of old Francis's portrait? Bad place."
"Yes, but also at the bottom of the main stairs, through a panel between them and the hall."
"That is better. There, then—O God, help us all! And now you must go. Harry is waiting for me. I dare not risk trying to convince him. He quarrelled with you, his best friend, for the suspicion—I can serve him better by going with him."
They went out together and found Harry in the hall. He detained Geoffrey with his hand, and the doctor passed on into the dining room.
"You will lunch here, Harry," he said. "It is ready."