“I think,” said Scanlon, “that I could provide such a one if you feel inclined to talk to him—a fellow who is naturally put together for getting to the bottom of things. I’ve seen him do one or two stunts since I’ve known him that were fancy bits of reasoning, and I’ve been told of some others that made my eyebrows curl.”
There was a silence of some duration. The young man took up the pipe once more and relighted it. Finally he spoke.
“There is no use in my attempting to deny the situation here at Schwartzberg,” said he, slowly. “I had hoped to keep it hidden, but the last few days have shown me that such a thing is impossible. Your judgment that the thing behind it all is one which I hesitate to make public is correct. At first I wanted to fight it out—alone, but I see that this, also, cannot be done.”
He leaned toward Scanlon, his hands upon the edge of the table, desperation in his eyes.
“I need help,” he said. “I need it perhaps as badly as it was ever needed before. For not only is my life in danger, but my sanity as well.”
“Tut! tut!” said the big man. “Hold tight! We’ll get you out of this with everything standing.”
“That there is some one whom you know—a private person—who has shown cleverness in entanglements brought to his notice is, perhaps, fortunate.” The young man looked at Scanlon, his face twitching nervously. “But I’ll have to give the matter some consideration. I am not sure that I can take any one into my confidence without doing an injustice.”
He got up and stood for some time troubled of face and with the pinched, hollow look which Scanlon had watched since coming to the castle. Then he said, simply:
“I think I’m tired, now Bat, and I’ll go to bed. Somehow,” and his smile was wan and a little piteous, “I don’t seem as able as I was a short time ago. This thing has taken some of the snap out of me.” He shook the big man by the hand, adding, “Thanks, old man, for the way you’ve taken this thing, and also for the offer regarding your friend. I’ll turn him over in my mind for a little, and then I’ll tell you just what I’ve concluded to do.”
After he had gone Bat sat at the oaken table and smoked. Three times he refilled the pipe with the reed stem, and three times he knocked out the ash. Then he also arose to his feet.