“Bravo,” thought Guest; “a little more argument of this sort would bring him round.” And full of determination, right or wrong, to persevere he said distinctly:
“Look here, Stratton, have you any special reason for refusing to listen to my words?”
“I—I—a reason?” cried Stratton looking startled. “None whatever.”
“Oh! You seemed so stubborn.”
“The natural feeling of a scientific man against intruders meddling with his study.”
“Mr Brettison made no objection to your breaking in upon him when he was dangerously ill and would have died without your help.”
Stratton was silenced for the moment, but he broke out directly with:
“But I am sure he has not been back.”
“How can you be, away as you have been so long?”
“I should have heard him or seen him. He would have come in to me.”