"I'm going to. I want your advice."
When Malling had finished what he had to say, the professor, who had interrupted him two or three times to ask pertinent questions, put his hands on his knees and thrust his head forward.
"You said you wanted advice," he said. "What about?"
"I wish you to advise me how I had better proceed."
"You really think the matter important?" asked the professor.
Malling looked slightly disconcerted.
"You don't?" he said.
"You are deducing a great deal from not very much. That's certain," observed the professor.
"You never knew Chichester," retorted Malling. "I did—two years ago."
"Suppose you are right, suppose these two reverend gentlemen have done something such as you suppose—and that there has been a result, a curious result, what have we to do with it? Tell me that."