And as soon as he returned to consciousness the young fellow would be making inquiries.
Perhaps Kitty's point of view regarding a certain duffer aged fifty-two was nearer the truth than the duffer himself realized.

Second childhood! As if the drums of jeopardy would ever again see light, after that tempest of fire and death--that mud volcano! One thing was certain--there would be no more cat-napping.

The game was on again.

He was assured of that side of it.
Green stones, the sunlight breaking against the flaws in a shower of golden sparks; green as the pulp of a Champagne grape; the drums of jeopardy! Murder and loot; he could understand.
Immediately after the patient was put to bed Cutty changed.

A nondescript suit of the day-labourer type and a few deft touches of coal dust completed his make-up.
"I shan't be back until morning," he announced.