But, naturally, I didn't know what was in it--till now." Mitchington, thoroughly taken aback by this candid statement, was at a loss for words, and again he glanced at Jettison.

But Jettison gave no help, and Mitchington fell back on himself.
"So you fetched old Harker ?" he said.

"What--what for, doctor?
If one may ask, you know." Bryce made a careless gesture with his cigarette.
"Oh--old Harker's deeply interested in what's going on," he answered.
"And as young Bewery drew my attention to your proceedings, why, I thought I'd draw Harker's.

And Harker was--interested." Mitchington hesitated before saying more.

But eventually he risked a leading question.
"Any special reason why he should be, doctor ?" he asked.
Bryce put his thumbs in the armholes of his waistcoat and looked half-lazily at his questioner.
"Do you know who old Harker really is ?" he inquired.
"No!" answered Mitchington.