I wish you'd come--but I may as well tell you that he's past help--dead!" "Dead! A man ?" exclaimed Ransford.

"What man?
A workman ?" Bryce had already made up his mind about telling Ransford of the stranger's call at the surgery.

He would say nothing--at that time at any rate.

It was improbable that any one but himself knew of the call; the side entrance to the surgery was screened from the Close by a shrubbery; it was very unlikely that any passer-by had seen the man call or go away.

No--he would keep his knowledge secret until it could be made better use of.
"Not a workman--not a townsman--a stranger," he answered.