The sound of his voice seemed to rouse Dudley, who looked at him with a vacant stare, and then let his eyelids drop again.
"So glad, old chap—so glad to—to see you yourself again!" whispered Max, huskily.
But Dudley was not himself. He looked up again, then tried to smile, and at last turned his head abruptly and seemed to be listening.
Carrie beckoned to Max and spoke low in his ear.
"You'd better take him away from here as quickly as you can, for half a dozen reasons."
Max nodded, but looked doubtful.
"He's ill," said he. "How shall I get him away? And where shall I take him to?"
"Down to your father's house" answered she at once.
Max looked rather startled.
"But—you know—the police!" muttered he, almost inaudibly. "Won't that be the very first place they'd come to—my home?"