But Bickley did not laugh.
"Arbuthnot," he said, "I have come to the conclusion that I have gone quite mad.

I beg you if I should show signs of homicidal mania, which I feel developing in me where Bastin is concerned, or of other abnormal violence, that you will take whatever steps you consider necessary, even to putting me out of the way if that is imperative." "What do you mean ?" I asked.

"You seem sane enough." "Sane, when I believe that I have seen and experienced a great number of things which I know it to be quite impossible that I should have seen or experienced.

The only explanation is that I am suffering from delusions." "Then is Bastin suffering from delusions, too ?" "Certainly, but that is nothing new in his case." "I don't agree with you, Bickley--about Bastin, I mean.

I am by no means certain that he is not the wisest of the three of us.