«May I ask what was the result of your examination?»
«Why do you want to know?»
«It might illuminate — well, conjecture as to his subsequent conduct,» said Parker, cautiously. This story seemed to have little coherence with the rest of the business, and he wondered whether coincidence was alone responsible for Sir Reuben's disappearance on the same night that he visited the doctor.
«I see,» said Sir Julian. «Yes. Well, I will tell you in confidence that I saw grave grounds of suspicion, but as yet, no absolute certainty of mischief.»
«Thank you. Sir Reuben left you at ten o'clock?»
«Then or thereabouts. I did not at first mention the matter as it was so very much Sir Reuben's wish to keep his visit to me secret, and there was no question of accident in the street or anything of that kind, since he reached home safely at midnight.»
«Quite so,» said Parker.
«It would have been, and is, a breach of confidence,» said Sir Julian, «and I only tell you now because Sir Reuben was accidentally seen, and because I would rather tell you in private than have you ferreting round here and questioning my servants, Mr. Parker. You will excuse my frankness.»
«Certainly,» said Parker. «I hold no brief for the pleasantness of my profession, Sir Julian. I am very much obliged to you for telling me this. I might otherwise have wasted valuable time following up a false trail.»
«I am sure I need not ask you, in your turn, to respect this confidence,» said the doctor. «To publish the matter abroad could only harm Sir Reuben and pain his wife, besides placing me in no favourable light with my patients.»