"He was quite himself, quite natural, yesterday?" asked Malcolm Sage.
"Quite himself," repeated Alf Pond deliberately; then, once more indicating Kid, he added, "Look at Kid; that's what he done in one round." There was in his tone all the contempt of knowledge for ignorance.
Malcolm Sage resumed his hat and, taking his pipe from his pocket, proceeded to stuff it with tobacco, as if that were the only problem in the world. On everything he did he seemed to concentrate his entire attention to the exclusion of all else.
"No smokin' here, if you please," said Alf Pond sharply.
Malcolm Sage returned his pipe to his pocket without comment.
"Now, what are you going to do?" There was challenge in Alf Pond's voice as he eyed Malcolm Sage with disfavour. In his world men with bald, conical heads and gold-rimmed spectacles did not count for much.
"How many people know of the disappearance?" enquired Malcolm Sage, ignoring the question.
"Outside of us here, only Mr. Papwith," was the response.
For fully a minute Malcolm Sage did not reply. At length he turned to Mr. Doulton.
"Can you arrange to remain here to meet Mr. Papwith?" he enquired.