All of which meant that he was unprepared in many ways for the situation which had developed. It went decidedly against the grain, after having carried things so far, to be obliged to indulge only in empty words, and finally to walk out of Follansbee’s house empty-handed. Yet that seemed to be what he was destined to do. Had he known what Patsy Garvan knew, he could have turned the tables very neatly, and might have brought Follansbee to time, but he did not have an inkling that his assistant’s eagerness to see him had had any bearing on the case in hand.
“You refuse, then, to tell me where James Stone is?” he asked, harking back to his errand.
“I have told you all I know,” the head of St. Swithin’s declared sullenly. “I’m not running an insane asylum.”
“And you’re going to keep his fortune? You don’t think it wise to make restitution, and thereby lighten your punishment?”
“I shall certainly not part with the money,” was the answer. “I have earned it, or will earn it before I get through. If I’m let alone, James Stone will not be crazy when I have finished with him. As for any little irregularities there may have been about the transaction, that’s a matter for Stone and Crawford to decide. It isn’t any of your business or the public’s, and if you’re wise you won’t try to take any steps against me.”
He was still standing before the fireplace, and perceptibly trembling with rage. He clenched his hands now and bared his teeth.
“Have a care, Nicholas Carter,” he went on shrilly. “I’m not the sort of man to allow another to cross my path with impunity. It would be far better for you to retire from this case right now, and leave matters as they stand. If you become a menace to me, I swear I’ll sweep you out of my way.” Here he passed his long, lean hand around, as though brushing away some object. “Let me tell you,” he added, “that I’m a dangerous man to have for an enemy.”
“Your threats haven’t any weight with me, Follansbee,” the detective answered quietly. “I’ve devoted my life to handling such blackguards as you. You’re clever, but you’re not clever enough; no scamp is. The evil he does trips him up sooner or later. I tell you here and now that you will not enjoy one penny of that money, no matter what happens. You may spend some of it, but you’ll be looking for a thunderbolt all the time.”
As he spoke, he half turned and approached the door. He took good care, however, to keep one eye on the physician, for he knew that at that moment Follansbee was ready for anything.