I recommend you, in good faith, to leave London today." "If my own safety is the only consideration I refuse as readily as I agreed before." Theydon's tone grew somewhat impatient.

He really fancied that Forbes was trifling with him.

Indeed, a queer doubt of the man's complete sanity now peeped up in him.

Forbes was regarded as a crank by a large section of the public on account of his peace propaganda; if that opinion were justified why should he not be eccentric in other respects?
It was fantastic, almost stupid, to look upon him as responsible for Mrs.Lester's murder, but there was always a possibility that he might be utilizing the chance which led him to her apartments shortly before the crime was committed to cover himself and his movements with a veil of spurious mystery.

In a word, though Theydon had likened his visitor's face to a mask of ivory he had momentarily forgotten the ominous token found on Mrs.Lester's body and duplicated in Forbes's own house by the morning's post.
Forbes spread wide his hands with the air of one who heard, but was allowing his thoughts to wander.