May I ask if you have any idea who he is ?" "Well," Thorndyke replied, "seeing that, as Carlyle has unkindly pointed out, clever people are not in an overwhelming majority, and that, of the clever people whom I know, only a very few are interested in my immediate demise, I am able to form a fairly probable conjecture." "And what do you mean to do ?" "For the present I shall maintain an attitude of masterly inactivity and avoid the night air." "But, surely," I exclaimed, "you will take some measures to protect yourself against attempts of this kind.

You can hardly doubt now that your accident in the fog was really an attempted murder." "I never did doubt it, as a matter of fact, although I prevaricated at the time.

But I have not enough evidence against this man at present, and, consequently, can do nothing but show that I suspect him, which would be foolish.

Whereas, if I lie low, one of two things will happen; either the occasion for my removal (which is only a temporary one) will pass, or he will commit himself--will put a definite clue into my hands.
Then we shall find the air-cane, the bicycle, perhaps a little stock of poison, and certain other trifles that I have in my mind, which will be good confirmatory evidence, though insufficient in themselves.

And now, I think, I must really adjourn this meeting, or we shall be good for nothing to-morrow.".