The biologist sat back in his chair, at the words, and looked over the table at his guest.
“That's awfully decent of you, Godfrey,” he said, “and I'd go if I saw a way to get your money to you if anything happened.”
“Damn the money!” cried the other.
The biologist smiled.
“Well,” he said, “let me think about it. I could probably fix up some sort of insurance. Lloyd's will bet nearly any sane man that he won't die for three months. And besides I should wish to look things up a little.”
Sir Godfrey rose.
“Oh, to be sure,” he said, “you want to make certain about the thing. We might be wrong. I hadn't an idea what it was until I brought it to you, and of course Tony hadn't an idea. Make certain of it by all means.”
The biologist extended his long legs under the table. He indicated the water color in his hand.
“This thing's certain,” he said. “I know what this thing is.”
He rapped the water color with the fingers of his free hand.