Colin slipped his arm through Mark's. "You shall hear all about it when we've had something to eat," he answered. "I've been healing the sick ever since half-past nine, and I'm beginning to faint for want of nourishment."
"I'll go along to the cellar and get out a bottle of fizz," suggested Mark. "I think you and Nancy are both entitled to a drink."
Once more Colin laughed appreciatively. "Yes," he said, "under the circumstances I suppose we are."
* * * * * * * * *
"And now," observed Mark, as he pushed his coffee cup away half an hour later, "I'd like to know what you two sunny-hearted infants were giggling at when I made that innocent remark in the surgery."
Colin glanced at Nancy. "Shall I tell him?" he asked, "or will you?"
"Oh, you," said Nancy decisively. "The police will want to know all about it, so it's just as well you should have a rehearsal."
"The police!" exclaimed Mark. "Good heavens, I hope you haven't been sending out prussic acid in mistake for magnesia?"
"It's worse than that," said Colin cheerfully. "However, if you hang on tight to your chair and don't interrupt I think you may be just able to bear it." He paused. "Joking aside, Mark," he added more seriously, "we seem to have struck something really ugly in the way of trouble, and I want your opinion and advice pretty badly."
At the sudden change in his voice Mark sobered down instantly.