Wolfenden, glancing towards Mr. Sabin as he finished his story, was surprised at the latter's imperfectly concealed interest. His lips were indrawn, his face seemed instinct with a certain passionate but finely controlled emotion. Only the slight hiss of his breath and the gleam of his black eyes betrayed him. "What happened?" he asked. "Did you secure the fellow?" Wolfenden played a long shot and waited whilst he watched the run of his ball. Then he turned towards his companion and shook his head. "No! He was a great deal too clever for that. He sent me out to meet Whitlett, and when we got back he had shown us a clean pair of heels. He got away through the window." "Did he take away any papers with him?" Mr. Sabin asked. "He may have taken a loose sheet or two," Wolfenden said. "Nothing of any consequence, I think. He had no time. I don't think that that could have been his object altogether, or he would scarcely have suggested my remaining with him in the study." Mr. Sabin drew a quick, little breath. He played an iron shot, and played it very badly. "It was a most extraordinary occurrence," he remarked. "What was the man like? Did he seem like an ordinary thief?" Wolfenden shook his head decidedly. "Not in the least," he declared. "He was well dressed and his manners were excellent. He had all the appearance of a man of position. He completely imposed upon both my mother and myself." "How long were you in the study before Dr. Whitlett arrived?" Mr. Sabin asked. "Barely five minutes." It was odd, but Mr. Sabin seemed positively relieved. "And Mr. Blatherwick," he asked, "where was he all the time?" "Who?" Wolfenden asked in surprise. "Mr. Blatherwick--your father's secretary," Mr. Sabin repeated coolly; "I understood you to say that his name was Blatherwick." "I don't remember mentioning his name at all," Wolfenden said, vaguely disturbed. Mr. Sabin addressed his ball with care and played it deliberately on to the green. Then he returned to the subject. "I think that you must have done," he said suavely, "or I should scarcely have known it. Was he in the room?" "All the time," Wolfenden answered. Mr. Sabin drew another little breath. "He was there when the fellow bolted?" Wolfenden nodded. "Why did he not try to stop him?" Wolfenden smiled. "Physically," he remarked, "it would have been an impossibility. Blatherwick is a small man and an exceedingly nervous one. He is an honest little fellow, but I am afraid he would not have shone in an encounter of that sort." Mr. Sabin was on the point of asking another question, but Wolfenden interrupted him. He scarcely knew why, but he wanted to get away from the subject. He was sorry that he had ever broached it. "Come," he said, "we are talking too much. Let us play golf. I am sure I put you off that last stroke."