"Excellent!" said Cleek. "But I think I shouldn't let that good news
go abroad just yet a while, Doctor. If you haven't taken anybody
into your confidence regarding it as yet, don't do so. You haven't,
have you?"

"No. That is, nobody but those who are now present. I told the
major and her ladyship on their return this afternoon, of course.
And--naturally--Captain MacTavish. He was with me at the time I made
the examination, which led me to arrive at the conclusion that the
man would survive."

"Ah!" said Cleek--and the curious, one-sided smile went slowly up his
cheek. "Oh, well, everything is all right among friends, of course,
but I shouldn't let it go any farther. And now, if you please, let us
go up to Farrow's room."

They went up forthwith--Lady Mary alone refraining from joining the
group--and a moment or two later Cleek found himself standing beside
the bed of the unconscious trainer.

He was a strong, sturdily built man, this Tom Farrow, upon whose
integrity the major banked so heavily in his warm, trustful,
outspoken way; and if the face is any index to the mind--which, in
nine cases out of ten, it isn't!--that trustfulness and confidence
were not misplaced. For Farrow's was a frank, open countenance which
suggested a clear conscience and an honest nature, even though it
was now pale and drawn with the lines that come of suffering and
injury.

At Cleek's request the doctor removed the bandages and allowed him
to inspect the wound at the back of the head.

"H'm! Made with a heavy implement shaped somewhat after the
fashion of a golf stick and almost as heavy as a sledge hammer,"
he commented. "Arm broken, too. Probably that was done first, and
the man struck again after he was on the ground and unable to
defend himself. There are two blows, you see: this one just above the
ear, and that crushing one at the back of the head. That's all I
care to see, Doctor, thank you. You may replace the bandages."

Nevertheless, although he asserted this, it was noticeable that his
examination of the stricken trainer did not end here; for while the
doctor was busy replacing the bandages he took the opportunity to
lift the man's hands and inspect them closely--parting the fingers
and looking at the thin, loose folds of skin between them. A few
minutes later, the bandages being replaced and the patient turned
over to the nurse in charge, the entire party left the room and filed
down the stairs together.

"Any ideas,