I confess, my dear fellow, that I am very much in your debt." He had never said as much before, and I must admit that his words gave me keen pleasure, for I had often been piqued by his indifference to my admiration and to the attempts which I had made to give publicity to his methods.

I was proud, too, to think that I had so far mastered his system as to apply it in a way which earned his approval.

He now took the stick from my hands and examined it for a few minutes with his naked eyes.

Then with an expression of interest he laid down his cigarette, and carrying the cane to the window, he looked over it again with a convex lens.
"Interesting, though elementary," said he as he returned to his favourite corner of the settee.

"There are certainly one or two indications upon the stick.