Part 31 (1/2)

”He er there er in letting it go on Is that it, Caw?”

”Yes, Mr Alan, and I hope you will believe that my remark was not entirely selfish”

”The trouble, Monsieur,” added Alan, ”is that like yourself I cannot answer questions”

”One, if you please, Mr Craik Is the danger for you also?”

Alan s much--”

Marjorie interposed ”Yes, yes, Monsieur!” she exclaimed, and hastily lowered a flushed face

The Frenchman was plainly distressed ”This,” he said at last, ”was not expected I perceive that you have enemies, that my esteemed patron had eneined Mr

Christopher Craik was humourist as well as clever man--”

”So he was,” the host interrupted; ”but the ball he set rolling is now doing so more violently than I can believe he intended Still, if stopping the clock before its time is likely to stultify his memory in any hy then, Monsieur, I, for one, will doWhat do you say, Caw?”

”If that is how you feel, sir, then I say, 'long live the clock!'”

”Hear, hear!” murmured Teddy

”Caw,” cried Miss Handyside, ”you're simply splendid!”

Caw had not blushed so warmly for many years

Guidet, pale and perturbed, had taken a little book froures close-packed Now he rose ”If I o to a quiet place for one half-hour, I--I will see if anything can be done, Mr Craik, but I pros”

”See that Monsieur Guidet has quietness and some refreshment,” said Alan to the servant, and the two left the rooo for a walk,” re on ain wear socks with--”

”But I do think,” said Marjorie hopefully, ”the funny little ot up and strolled over to the clock ”Monsieur Guidet,”

he observed, ”has evidently the sensibilities of an artist as well as the ordinary feelings of humanity Caw has appealed to the latter If I were you, Alan, I should appeal to the for to Guidet the probability of an attack on the clock itself”

On the way out-of-doors, Alan looked into the roohly drawn on notepaper He wagged his head drearily

”I fear I can do nothings,” he sighed

”Perhaps I ought to mention, Monsieur,” Alan said, as if the idea had just occurred to him, ”that my enemies are just as likely to attack the clock as my person--more likely, it may be”

”Hah!” Guidet bounded on his seat ”My clock!--They dare to attack hih! Pray leave me, Mr Craik I--Ithe walk up the loch Teddy actually forgot the clock Alan and Marjorie were in front, and he noted his friend's bearing towards the girl with a pained wonder, and thought of Doris