"I do," said the Professor, with a curiously successful affectation of cheerfulness for so untrained an actor. "Yes, certainly, gentlemen, I confirm it."
There was, if anything, a little precipitancy in his manner, as though he were eager to pay, as he most certainly was to get rid of those ropes round his arms and legs.
There was another thing bothering the Pragmatist. The Green Overcoat, which still wrapped him all about, was being woefully delayed. If the delay lasted much longer the owner might miss it … and then, the tight cords at its elbows were doing it no good. They might actually be marking it. The thought made Professor Higginson very uncomfortable indeed. He had no idea whose it was, but it certainly belonged to someone of importance. … He wished he had never seen it.
He was not to be the last to wish that, but Hell is a hard taskmaster and the Professor was caught.
"We think," said Jimmy a little pompously, "at least, I think
" (after glancing at Melba)."I don't," said Melba.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/P_032--The_green_overcoat.png/500px-P_032--The_green_overcoat.png)
The Professor was caught
"Well, I think," continued Jimmy, "and I