He looked it, anyhow." The Doctor and Mr.Basket returned to the latter's house in deeper perplexity than ever.
"The evidence," began Mr.Basket, lighting his pipe after dinner, "vague as it is, points more decidedly than before to foul play.
We have been assuming that our poor friend, whether by accident or design, found himself in my fish-pond." "He would hardly have walked into it on purpose," said the Doctor.
"It is at least highly improbable.

Well, here we have another man who comes running to the theatre wet through--also, we will assume, from an immersion in the fish-pond.

We will suppose that he plunged into it to the rescue and having brought his burden safe to shore, ran to the theatre to inform me of the accident.

At once we are confronted with half a dozen serious difficulties.

To begin with, why, having asked for me, did he disappear ?" "Press-gang," the Doctor suggested.
"Granted.