" 'My clients are sometimes unnecessarily discreet', he remarked in his pompous way when I told him about the arrival, and of course he added his usual platitude about our reputation for discretion.
"I went back with him to the waiting-room, and just stood at the door long enough to see him hail the doctor chap very cordially and be introduced to the patient's cousin, and then I came away. Rather rum, isn't it?"
"You've certainly made the best of the yarn," said Escott with a laugh.
"By George, if you'd been there you'd have thought it funny too."
"Well, good-night, I'm off. We'll probably hear to-morrow what it's all about."
But in the morning there was little more to be learned about the new-comer's history and antecedents. Dr Congleton spoke of the matter to the two young men, with the pompous cough that signified extreme discretion.
"Brought by an old friend of mine," he said. "A curious story, Escott, but quite intelligible. There seem to be the best reasons for answering no questions about him; you understand?"
"Certainly, sir," said the two assistants, with the more assurance as they had no information to give.
"I am perfectly satisfied, mind you--perfectly satisfied," added their chief.
"By the way, sir," Sherlaw ventured to remark, "hadn't they given him something in the way of a sleeping-draught?"
"Eh? Indeed? I hardly think so, Sherlaw, I hardly think so. Case of reaction entirely. Good morning."
"Congleton seems satisfied," remarked Escott.
"I'll tell you what," said the junior, profoundly. "Old Congers is a very good chap, and all that, but he's not what I should call extra sharp. _I_ should feel uncommon suspicious."
"H'm," replied Escott. "As you say, our worthy chief is not extra sharp. But that's not our business, after all."
"By the way," said Escott, a couple of days later, "how is your mysterious man getting on? I haven't seen him myself yet."
"He's turning out a regular sportsman, by George! For the first day he was more or less in the same state in which he arrived. Then he began to wake up and ask questions. 'What the devil is this place?' he said to me in the evening. It may sound profane, but he was very polite, I assure you. I told him, and he sort of raised his eyebrows, smiled, and thanked me like a Prime Minister acknowledging an obligation. Since then he has steadily developed sporting, not to say frisky, tastes. He went out this morning, and in five minutes had his arm round one of the prettiest nurses' waist. And she didn't seem to mind much either, by George!"