Guidet sprang up and sat down again. He appealed to Alan. "What does he mean, Mr. Craik?"
"He means," Alan answered, "that whatever possible danger there may be in stopping the clock, there is very probable danger in letting it go on. Is that it, Caw?"
"Yes, Mr. Alan, and I hope you will believe that my remark was not entirely selfish."
"The trouble, Monsieur," added Alan, "is that like yourself I cannot answer questions."
"One, if you please, Mr. Craik. Is the danger for you also?"
Alan smiled. "I'm not worrying much—"
Marjorie interposed. "Yes, yes, Monsieur!" she exclaimed, and hastily lowered a flushed face.
The Frenchman was plainly distressed. "This," he said at last, "was not expected. I perceive that you have enemies, that my esteemed patron had enemies also. Not so bad did I understand it to be. I imagined Mr. Christopher Craik was humourist as well as clever man—"
"So he was," the host interrupted; "but the ball he set rolling is now doing so more violently than I can believe he intended. Still, if stopping the clock before its time is likely to stultify his memory in any way—why then, Monsieur, I, for one, will do my best to keep it going. What do you say, Caw?"
"If that is how you feel, sir, then I say, 'long live the clock!'"