Henry shrugged his shoulders. "I have no friends."
"Then you absolutely refuse to give me any help?"
"I absolutely refuse to give you what I don't possess," said Henry impatiently.
Burton waited a moment, then he asked suddenly: "Did Selby give you back your knife, before he left the surgery the other night?"
The look that had flashed instantaneously into Henry's eyes at the mention of that name gave Burton all the information he needed as to Henry's power of hating one man at least. But the answer to his question was abrupt and positive.
"No."
"Did you notice what he did with it,--whether he gave it to your father, or left it on the mantel, or anywhere else?"
"I didn't notice."
"But you are positive that he didn't give it to you and that you didn't unconsciously drop it into your own pocket?"
"Of course I am positive. I wouldn't be unconscious in connection with anything that Selby was concerned in. If he came near enough to me to hand me anything, I would be conscious of the fact, you may be sure. Why?"