"Yes, I am satisfied," Graham answered nervously. "You know that—that
I'm under arrest?"
Lutchester nodded.
"Well, you're not asking for my sympathy, I suppose?" he observed drily.
The young man flushed.
"I know that I behaved like a fool," he admitted. "All the same, I've been working night and day for weeks on this problem. I haven't even been up to town once. I must say I think they seem inclined to be a little hard on me."
"No one is going to be in the least hard on you," Lutchester assured him. "You have committed a frightful indiscretion, and all that is asked of you now is to keep your mouth shut. If you do that, I think a way will be found for you out of your troubles."
"But what is to become of me?" Graham demanded.
"I understand that you are to be taken to Northumberland to-morrow," Lutchester informed him. "There you will be allowed every facility for fresh experiments. In the meantime, I have promised to give you a shakedown here for the night. You will find a soldier on guard outside your door, but you can treat him as your servant."
"You are very kind," Graham faltered, a little vaguely. "If only I could understand—"
Lutchester rose to his feet. His manner became more serious, his tone had in it a note of finality.