“I have made a few inquiries here and there,” I said, “and I have heard it hinted that he had some secret means of replenishing his purse. He has been known more than once to leave here with only a few sovereigns in his pocket and to come back with his sovereigns turned into banknotes.”
“I remember hearing some such tale,” the doctor remarked. “I’m afraid it is all rather vague, though.”
“I’m very much obliged to you, Dr. Schofield,” I assured him, rising to take my leave.
He followed me to the door and then returned to his interrupted dinner. I mounted into the dog cart and we were soon bowling through the darkness towards Borden Tower.
“Get anything out of the old chap?” Cecil asked.
“Not much. I’m just a little wiser than I was before, that’s all. Beastly sorry to keep you waiting so long!”
“Oh, that’s all right! But I say, Phil,” he added, “what is this idea of yours? You can tell me, can’t you?”
“If it comes to anything, I will,” I assured him. “But at present it is altogether too vague and you would only laugh at it. Don’t ask me anything more about it yet, there’s a good fellow.”
“You’re very close, all of a sudden,” he grumbled. “Why can’t you tell me?”
“Because I’m afraid of your letting it out to someone whom I don’t want to know anything about it,” I answered.