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WHEN Professor Woodfield, having deliberately packed his bag and -- to my great relief and Jervis's -- declined Thorndyke's invitation to stay and take tea with us, presently took his departure, we descended to the sitting-room, whither Polton followed us almost immediately with a tea-tray, having, apparently, boiled the kettle in the adjacent workshop while the final act of the analysis was in progress. He placed the tray on a small table by Thorndyke's chair, and, evidently, anticipating the inevitable discussion on the results of the analysis, made up the fire on a liberal scale and retired with unconcealed reluctance.
As soon as we were alone, Jervis opened the subject by voicing his and my joint desire for "more light."