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 them back, and in a sudden panic he added, "I mean—"

But the Doctor had turned to Ned. "Was it you, Edward?" he asked.

Ned's gaze dropped from the Doctor's, and for an instant he made no reply. Then he raised his eyes again, and, "I'd rather not say, sir," he announced respectfully but firmly.

There followed another brief silence. Laurie was trying hard not to look at Ned. The Doctor was thoughtfully rolling a pencil across the big blotter under the palm of one hand. Ned watched him and waited. Then the Doctor looked up again.

"You are, of course," he said not unkindly, "privileged to refuse to answer, Edward, but when you do there is but one construction to be placed on your refusal. I presume that you did climb into your room by a window last night. I confess that I don't understand it, for this is the first time since you came to us that your conduct has been questioned. If you are shielding another—" his glance swept to Laurie and away again—"you are doing wrong. Punishment that falls on an innocent party fails of its purpose.