Mr. Walkingshaw groaned. His son thought it well to improve the occasion, since he did not expect to have many more.
"Him and his radio-electricity! What was it he was going to do—renew the cells of the body?"
"Well, why shouldn't cells be renewed?" protested the invalid weakly.
"There will be," said his son facetiously. "He'll find himself in one again or I'm mistaken."
Mr. Walkingshaw lay silent for a few minutes. Then suddenly he groaned.
"Another of them coming on!" he muttered, and twisted his face away.
It was a few minutes more before he spoke again.
"I trust they'll catch the rascal! Andrew, my boy, can you not do anything to assist the police?"
It was impressive to see how adequately the junior partner handled each fresh development of the situation. At these last words he looked exceedingly grave.
"Had your thoughts not better be turning to other things?" he suggested.