"Mr. Todd's condition is unchanged."
One morning Fenton Hardy came to his sons with a newspaper in his hand. He was smiling broadly.
"I think the mystery is explained," he said. "Read this."
In the newspaper was an account of the capture of Lieutenant Patwick. The man had been shot down on the seacoast by detectives. Thinking he was going to die, he had admitted the murder of Barton Bixby. He also spoke of hiding in a cave with a strange old man, a lunatic.
"Todham Todd," murmured Frank.
"That makes everything as clear as day," added Joe.
"He must have left his clippings with Captain Royal," said Mr. Hardy. "Murderers usually like to read all that is printed about their crimes."
The boys told Evangeline Todd the entire story of their meeting with Captain Royal, although in deference to the good lady's feelings they refrained from mentioning the fight in the cave or the incident of the shotgun. How Todham Todd had found his way down to the coast and what had prompted him to call himself Captain Royal and take up his hermit existence in the cave, were mysteries.
"If he recovers, he may remember nothing about that phase," the doctor had said. "You may use your own judgment whether to tell him of it or not."
"We shan't tell him," declared Evangeline Todd decisively. "Let him take up the threads of his old life anew."