tim's good faith I
had not a moment's doubt; it was as patent as his magnanimous compassion
for Abercromby Royle. He blamed himself for not looking after his own
show; it was unfair to take a poor little pettifogging solicitor and
turn him by degrees into one's trusted business man; it was trying him
too high altogether. He spoke of the poor wretch as flying from a wrath
that existed chiefly in his own imagination, and even for that he blamed
himself. It appeared that Coysh had vowed to Royle that he would have no
mercy on anybody who was swindling him, no matter who it might be. He
had meant it as a veiled warning, but Royle might have known his bark
was worse than his bite, and have made a clean breast of the whole thing
there and then. If only he had! And yet I believe we all three thought
the better of him because he had not.

But it was not too late, thanks to me! I could not reveal the boat or
line by which Royle was travelling, because it had never occurred to me
to inquire, but Coysh seemed confident of finding out. His confidence
was of the childlike type which is the foible of some strong men. He
knew exactly what he was going to do, and it sounded the simplest thing
in the world. Royle would be met on the other side by a cable which
would bring him to his senses--and by one of Pinkerton's young men who
would shadow him until it did. Either he would cable back the uttermost
farthing through his bank, or that young man would tap him on the
shoulder without more ado. It was delightful to watch a powerful mind
clearing wire entanglements of detail in its leap to a picturesque
conclusion; and we had further displays for our benefit; for there was
no up-train for an hour and more, and that set the inventor off upon his
wonderful bicycle, which was to accumulate hill power by getting wound
up automatically on the level. Nothing is so foolish as the folly of
genius, and I shall never forget that great man's obstinate defence of
his one supreme fiasco, or the diagram that he drew on an unpapered
wall while Uvo Delavoye and I attended with insincere solemnity.

But Uvo was no better when we were at last alone. And his craze seemed
to me the crazier of the two.

"It's as plain as a pikestaff, my good Gillon! This fellow Royle comes
here an honest man, and instantly starts on a career of fraud--for no
earthly reason whatsoever!"

"So you want to find him an unearthly one?"

"I don't; it's there--and a worse case tha