This time Teddy reserved nothing save Doris's promise to marry Bullard at the end of a year. That, he felt, was for Doris herself to tell. Beyond an occasional exclamation his recital met with no interruption. When he had made an end there was a long pause while Alan and Caw filled up mentally a few more of the gaps in their knowledge. The latter was sadly upset by the revelation of the stones being paste.
"I wonder," said the former, "who the man was who opened the box for Bullard?"
"Lancaster, I fancy, will be able to tell you. Bullard seems to have rather a choice set of assistants. Doris described him as a dreadful-looking man!"
"May I ask you a question, Mr. Alan?"
"Certainly—as many as you like."
The servant was gazing at the carpet. "When Mr. France informed us that the diamonds in the Green Box were false, why, sir, did your eyes jump to the clock?" He rose without waiting for the answer. "And may I remind you, gentlemen, that you are dining at Dr. Handyside's in twenty minutes from now?" He was going out when Alan recalled him.
"Have you the address of the chap who made the clock, Caw?"
"I have, sir."
"Then wire him now asking him to come here in the morning. And, by the way, Caw—" Alan hesitated.
"Sir?"