“I noticed you walked lame,” interpolated Tuppence.

Julius nodded, and continued: 

" ‘How did it happen?’ I asked again.  He replied dryly.  ’You fell, with a considerable portion of one of my trees, into one of my newly planted flower-beds.’

“I liked the man.  He seemed to have a sense of humour.  I felt sure that he, at least, was plumb straight.  ‘Sure, doc,’ I said, ’I’m sorry about the tree, and I guess the new bulbs will be on me.  But perhaps you’d like to know what I was doing in your garden?’ ‘I think the facts do call for an explanation,’ he replied.  ‘Well, to begin with, I wasn’t after the spoons.’

“He smiled.  ’My first theory.  But I soon altered my mind.  By the way, you are an American, are you not?’ I told him my name.  ‘And you?’ ’I am Dr. Hall, and this, as you doubtless know, is my private nursing home.’

“I didn’t know, but I wasn’t going to put him wise.  I was just thankful for the information.  I liked the man, and I felt he was straight, but I wasn’t going to give him the whole story.  For one thing he probably wouldn’t have believed it.

“I made up my mind in a flash.  ‘Why, doctor,’ I said, ’I guess I feel an almighty fool, but I owe it to you to let you know that it wasn’t the Bill Sikes business I was up to.’  Then I went on and mumbled out something about a girl.  I trotted out the stern guardian business, and a nervous breakdown, and finally explained that I had fancied I recognized her among the patients at the home, hence my nocturnal adventures.  I guess it was just the kind of story he was expecting.  ‘Quite a romance,’ he said genially, when I’d finished.  ‘Now, doc,’ I went on, ’will you be frank with me?  Have you here now, or have you had here at any time, a young girl called Jane Finn?’ He repeated the name thoughtfully.  ‘Jane Finn?’ he said.  ‘No.’

“I was chagrined, and I guess I showed it.  ‘You are sure?’ ’Quite sure, Mr. Hersheimmer.  It is an uncommon name, and I should not have been likely to forget it.’

“Well, that was flat.  It laid me out for a space.  I’d kind of hoped my search was at an end.  ‘That’s that,’ I said at last.  ’Now, there’s another matter.  When I was hugging that darned branch I thought I recognized an old friend of mine talking to one of your nurses.’  I purposely didn’t mention any name because, of course, Whittington might be calling himself something quite different down here, but the doctor answered at once.  ‘Mr. Whittington, perhaps?’ ‘That’s the fellow,’ I replied.  ’What’s he doing down here?  Don’t tell me his nerves are out of order?’

“Dr. Hall laughed.  ’No.  He came down to see one of my nurses, Nurse Edith, who is a niece of his.’  ‘Why, fancy that!’ I exclaimed.  ‘Is he still here?’ ’No, he went back to town almost immediately.’  ‘What a pity!’ I ejaculated.  ’But perhaps I could speak to his niece—­Nurse Edith, did you say her name was?’