“No, sir.”
It was plain that Patsy had stumbled over something important and was badly in need of advice, but it did not occur to the detective that it could have anything to do with Follansbee or Stone. He had given out no assignment of that sort. He found several matters which demanded his attention, and spent some time at his headquarters. He was impatient for the next move, but delayed a little in the hope that Patsy would put in an appearance. At length, however, having heard nothing from his young assistant, he determined on a bold step—nothing less than to seek out Doctor Follansbee and confront the cunning rogue with the evidence he had gathered.
“It’s doubtful if I will be able to bring him to terms,” he told himself, “for I doubt if he has a nerve in his body. It’s worth trying, though. If he realizes that I’ve taken up the case, it will make him move more cautiously than he otherwise would. Besides, I must find out, if possible, what has happened to Stone. Poor Crawford will be on pins and needles until I can send him some definite word; and let’s hope the news won’t be too bad. Follansbee certainly means no good to Stone. He has annexed practically the whole of the fortune, and that implies some scheme to get rid of his victim. I’d be afraid that the worst had happened if I did not feel sure that Follansbee isn’t the man to make use of any ordinary means of gaining his ends.”
The detective hunted up Doctor Follansbee’s private address in the telephone book and began hasty preparations for departure. He had already removed his disguise, and did not consider another. He meant to go openly in one of his cars and to see if he could scare the head of St. Swithin’s into returning the money and dropping all of his schemes against the partners.
It was shortly after four o’clock when his machine stopped in front of the doctor’s house and he strode up the steps. He was more than half prepared to find that Follansbee was out, although he had called up the hospital and learned that the doctor was not there. On the contrary, however, the servant informed him that her employer was at home.
Nick thought best not to give his name, and was ushered into the reception room as if he had been an ordinary patient without an appointment. But Follansbee happened to be at liberty, and in a few moments the servant invited him into the office adjoining the reception room.
It was a dark day, and the electric lights were on in the office. Nick stepped quietly into the room, and the light fell full upon his face. Follansbee did not look up at first, but when he became conscious that his visitor was standing just inside the door, he turned round to motion him to a seat. As he caught sight of the detective, he gave a visible start, and the hand on the desk closed convulsively.
His cool self-command had deserted him for the moment when he found himself face to face with the man who had once thwarted him and threatened to crush him if he ever broke his parole.