A SUSPICIOUS ACCIDENT The Temple clock had announced in soft and confidential tones that it was a quarter to seven, in which statement it was stoutly supported by its colleague on our mantelpiece, and still there was no sign of Thorndyke.

It was really a little strange, for he was the soul of punctuality, and moreover, his engagements were of such a kind as rendered punctuality possible.

I was burning with impatience to impart my news to him, and this fact, together with the ghostly proceedings of Polton, worked me up to a state of nervous tension that rendered either rest or thought equally impossible.

I looked out of the window at the lamp below, glaring redly through the fog, and then, opening the door, went out on to the landing to listen.
At this moment Polton made a silent appearance on the stairs leading from the laboratory, giving me quite a start; and I was about to retire into the room when my ear caught the tinkle of a hansom approaching from Paper Buildings.
The vehicle drew nearer, and at length stopped opposite the house, on which Polton slid down the stairs with the agility of a harlequin.

A few moments later I heard his voice ascending from the hall-- "I do hope, sir, you're not much hurt ?" I ran down the stairs and met Thorndyke coming up slowly with his right hand on Polton's shoulder.