"Dizzy a bit, aren't you?"
The Unknown rubbed his wrists where his bonds had cut them. He
made an effort to speak.
"Water!" he said in a low voice.
The Doctor gestured to Billy. "Get some water--or whisky--if
there is any--that'd be better."
"There's a flask of whisky in my room, Billy," added Miss Cornelia
helpfully.
"Now, my man," continued the Doctor to the Unknown. "You're in the
hands of friends. Brace up and tell us what happened!"
Beresford had been looking about for the detective, puzzled not to
find him, as usual, in charge of affairs. Now, "Where's Anderson?
This is a police matter!" he said, making a movement as if to go in
search of him.
The Doctor stopped him quickly.
"He was here a minute ago--he'll be back presently," he said,
praying to whatever gods he served that Anderson, bound and gagged
in the billiard room, had not yet returned to consciousness.
Unobserved by all except Miss Cornelia, the mention of the
detective's name had caused a strange reaction in the Unknown. His
eyes had opened--he had started--the haze in his mind had seemed
to clear away for a moment. Then, for some reason, his shoulders
had slumped again and the look of apathy come back to his face. But,
stunned or not, it now seemed possible that he was not quite as
dazed as he appeared.
The Doctor gave the slumped shoulders a little shake.
"Rouse yourself, man!" he said. "What has happened to you?"
"I'm dazed!" said the Unknown thickly and slowly.
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