Mr. Carmody's first emotion on beholding his long-lost nephew was one of ecstatic relief.
"John!" he cried, bounding from his chair.
Then, chilling his enthusiasm, came the thought that there might be no occasion for joy in this return. Probably, he reflected, John, after being drugged and robbed of the ticket, had simply come home in the ordinary course of events. After all, there would have been no reason for those scoundrels to detain him. Once they had got the ticket, John would have ceased to count.
"Where have you been?" he asked in a flatter voice.
A rather peculiar smile came and went on John's face.
"I spent the night at Healthward Ho," he said. "Were you worried about me?"
"Extremely worried."
"I'm sorry. Doctor Twist is a hospitable chap. He wouldn't let me go."
Mr. Carmody, on the point of speaking, checked himself. His position, he suddenly saw, was a delicate one. Unless he were prepared to lay claim to the possession of special knowledge, which he certainly was not, anything in the nature of agitation on his part must inevitably seem peculiar. To those without special knowledge Mr. Twist, Mr. Molloy, and Dolly were ordinary, respectable persons and there was no reason for him to exhibit concern at the news that John had spent the night at Healthward Ho.
"Indeed?" he said carefully.