"Dropped on his head?" inquired Neville.
"Oh no, it was probably some seemingly trivial episode which affected his subconscious," said Sally.
"My precious!" said Neville, with spurious fondness.
"He hasn't got one."
The Sergeant could not allow this assertion to pass. "That's where you're wrong, sir. Everyone's got a subconscious."
Neville's interest was at once aroused: "Let us sit down, and talk this over. I can see you're going to support Miss Drew, but though I know little, if anything, about the subject I have a very agile brain, and I'm practically certain to refute all your statements. We will have a lovely argument, shall we?"
"Very nice, I'm sure, sir," said the Sergeant, "but I'm not here to argue with you. It would be a waste of my time."
"It wouldn't be half such a waste of time as staring at that broken branch," said Neville. "Argument with me is very stimulating to the brain, and as a matter of fact that branch, which looks like a clue, is a snare for the unwary."
The Sergeant looked at him rather narrowly. "Is it, sir? Perhaps you can tell me how it comes to be broken?"
"I can, of course, but it isn't awfully interesting. Are you sure you wouldn't rather -'