“Yes, if we do. I am doubtful whether Mr. Weiss will require my services again, but I sincerely hope he will. It would be rare sport to locate his secret burrow, all unsuspected. But now I must really be off.”

“Goodbye, then,” said Thorndyke, slipping a well-sharpened pencil through the rubber band that fixed the notebook to the board. “Let me know how the adventure progresses⁠—if it progresses at all⁠—and remember, I hold your promise to come and see me again quite soon in any case.”

He handed me the board and the lamp, and, when I had slipped them into my pocket, we shook hands and I hurried away, a little uneasy at having left my charge so long.