Farland sat waiting in the lounge . he &apos;d yet to meet Dr Halset , who &apos;d arrived just after dinner . following a telephone call , a little earlier , Winter had said , I &apos;d like an opportunity of explaining you to Halset before he sees you . would you mind very much ? you can stay in the dining room , or &amp;hellip; . I &apos;ll be in my bedroom , Farland had told him . there &apos;s every comfort , and I &apos;ve a letter to write . so glad you understand . you &apos;ll hear us come upstairs . he &apos;s certain to want Wally to retire early and will probably give him a stronger sedative . when we &apos;re through we &apos;ll join you in the lounge . how much will you tell Dr Halset about the reasons for my being here ? Farland had asked . I &apos;ll tell him as little as possible . he will , of course , have to know about your rescuing Wally from the cliffs last night . that falls into the medical picture . but the local gossip and other troubles are outside his province . you &apos;ll be able to take your cue from me . while he was waiting for them , Farland reviewed his own decision to say nothing of what he &apos;d learned during the day . for one thing , he was reluctant to reveal the source of his information . he was prepared to believe Susie Bowers , but Winter might feel very differently . it would n&apos;t suit Farland &apos;s plans to have the girl banned from the house on the grounds that she was an irresponsible gossip . he &apos;d other valid reasons for silence . so far there was no proof , no confirmation , and there was still much to be discovered . he strongly suspected that Smail was one of the men who &apos;d been watching the house at night ; but the evidence of the chewing-gum was circumstantial . considered objectively it only proved that one of the intruders could have been Smail . the identification of the second man as either Harker or Beddoes was even flimsier . this was a lead . no more . he &apos;d have to watch them ; and if the suspicions were proved right , then he &apos;d have to discover who was employing them . and had the same unknown person induced Bowers to start the talk in the village ? or was that fortuitous ? Farland summed up . quite fair to hold out on Winter . it seems he &apos;s keeping things back . if he knows about the knife &amp;hellip; . and if he knows that Wally did attack the girl &amp;hellip; . there were voices in the hall and Winter entered with the visitor . he effected introductions . Halset was not at all as Farland had pictured . he was a shortish man of slight build . the nose was the predominant feature of his face . it was long and beakish , coming out so far that one felt the tip must intrude in his vision whenever he glanced downwards . he was almost bald , the remaining hair tufting at the sides and tending to curl at the back . he looked a mournful man and his handshake was loose ; but his voice was well modulated and , Farland imagined , could be soothing . Mr Farland , I &apos;ve heard how magnificently you behaved last night . I &apos;m thankful you were here and averted what would certainly have been a tragedy . I did what I could , Farland murmured . he glanced at Rufus Winter . it was a situation that called for somebody pretty athletic . I &apos;d not the nerve - let alone the body , Winter said candidly . let me get you a drink . how very fortunate , doctor , that you should happen to be coming down this way . it &apos;s not often you leave town . I escape too rarely , Halset said . I prescribe rest for myself ; but I never manage to take it . however - there was this long-standing invitation and I suddenly found myself with a number of cancelled appointments . my secretary managed some re-arranging of the remaining ones and - well - here I am . taking on an extra fifty miles of driving and a bit more work , Winter commented . I appreciate it . do n&apos;t worry . I do n&apos;t mind driving . in fact , I do so little these days that I welcome it . when they were sitting comfortably , a drink at hand , Winter said : you can talk freely to Farland . I &apos;ve told him very little - largely because I do n&apos;t sufficiently understand your methods . hypnosis , Halset said . he moved a little in his chair so that he was facing Farland . I expect you know that it &apos;s possible - with the right subject - to virtually turn back the clock . fortunately for him , Waldo Sutton &apos;s a good subject . I can put him into a hypnotic sleep very quickly . it took longer at first and the results were no more than encouraging ; but now we &apos;ve reached the stage where he falls into a trance in response to a simple word formula . while he &apos;s in this condition I can take him back , make him relive portions of the past . in particular that night of the air-crash . you know of the disaster ? Farland nodded . Halset continued , the value of hypnotic treatment lies in the increased suggestibility of the patient and also what we call abreaction - bringing repressed material back to consciousness . it &apos;s a complex matter , not easy to explain in a few words . I think I get the general idea , Farland said . do you give this hypnotic treatment to all your patients ? indeed , no . it &apos;s only possible in certain cases . and it &apos;s only one among many methods of treatment . Winter said , you always have a soothing effect on Wally . we should n&apos;t have any more trouble for the time being . I hope not , Halset said . he did n&apos;t sound so confident as Winter . in fact it seemed to Farland , who &apos;d been watching closely , that Halset was not entirely at ease . he gave the impression of being a worried man and once or twice , during the explanation of the treatment being given to Wally , he &apos;d glanced at Winter as though for support . or is it just , Farland wondered , that I &apos;m not too favourably impressed ? he wanted to study the psychiatrist more closely . he could n&apos;t be professionally critical but he might evaluate the man . however there was no chance , for Halset looked at his watch and announced he must be on his way . Winter , at Farland &apos;s shoulder , said quietly , I hesitate to suggest you should run any risk ; but I &apos;d like to be sure our unknown friends are n&apos;t watching . leave it to me , Farland assured him . Halset had not risen from his seat . Winter said , you &apos;ll excuse Farland ? he &apos;s a man of habit - likes his evening exercise . of course , Halset said . he accompanied the loose handshake with a murmured hope that they might meet again sometime . Farland left the house by a back door , just behind the garage , and here he paused thoughtfully . did it matter if the men who watched the house saw Halset &apos;s car leave ? did Winter have a genuine reason , or was it just a smooth dismissal ? remembering that Halset had remained seated Farland favoured this explanation . he thought , Halset sees me - and then they get me out of the way . could be worth checking . moving with cautious silence he reached the terrace and approached the windows . one of them , at the side of the doors , was open at the top . he moved a small garden bench nearer to the wall and stepped up on it , leaning towards the window . Halset was talking . I still do n&apos;t like it . I do n&apos;t like the risk . we should have kept &amp;hellip; . nonsense ! Winter interrupted briskly . I know this is complicated ; but I can handle it . we will n&apos;t fail . I wish you &apos;d never &amp;hellip; . Halset lowered his voice , or was moving farther from the window . Farland could hear no more ; not even Winter &apos;s reply . he guessed the two men must be leaving the lounge . he jumped down and replaced the bench . he went back to the garage and stood there waiting . within five minutes there was the unmistakable slam of a car door . as the car drove off he made his way along the hedge . Winter might stroll round the house or come out on the terrace and Farland was anxious to give him no cause for suspicion . why was Halset uneasy and what was the risk he &apos;d mentioned ? were they discussing some aspect of the treatment Wally was undergoing ? or was that last private conversation in no way connected with Wally ? Winter had business interests - or so he claimed . it was n&apos;t impossible for Halset to be financially involved . investments , perhaps . he &apos;d presumably come to know Winter quite well . certainly it sounded as though Winter was making the decisions , and this rather ruled out medical matters . that sentence interrupted by Winter might have been : we should have kept to the original investments . Winter might be playing the market . that could be complicated ; but he &apos;d probably feel himself competent to handle it . Farland thought , if money &apos;s the answer it &apos;s nothing to do with me , and politely pushing me off was justified . but was money the answer ? Farland tried to connect the words with the whispering campaign against Wally , ignoring Winter &apos;s assurance that Halset would not be told of this . the result was unsatisfactory . by this time he was nearing the bushes , so he dismissed the overheard conversation from his mind . he needed to have his wits about him . he &apos;d no intention of being caught as he had on the previous night . he came to a sudden stop , hearing a slight rustling ahead . the sounds became more definite and he had a glimpse of someone running across a gap between bushes , heading towards the orchard . he swore under his breath . by some ill-fortune he &apos;d been spotted first . he plunged forward in pursuit but still using caution , remembering there might well be two men . by the time he reached the orchard , though , it seemed certain there was only one intruder , who was gaining ground . thanks to Susie &apos;s guidance earlier in the day he knew his quarry was making for the cliff path ; but this was of no particular value , for the man obviously knew the layout much more intimately . racing along the narrow path by the allotments Farland at last had a clear view of the man he was after and there was no mistaking the tall , gangling figure . it was Smail . within seconds a bend in the track hid him from view and Farland did n&apos;t see him again . when he joined the wider cliff path Farland stopped . Smail was too cunning to keep to the path ; he &apos;d be making his way under cover of bushes and stretches of hedge . which was his way ? to the village ? to Brigantine Cove , where the Diana might be lying ? it had to be a guess and even if he made the right choice everything was in Smail &apos;s favour . there were hundreds of places where he could hide . Farland accepted defeat . he regained his breath , listening hard , but there were no betraying sounds . he lit a cigarette and began to retrace his steps . alongside one of the allotments was a fence and here he rested for a short while . it was a warm night and he was tempted to stay longer , but he &apos;d still quite a distance to cover and he &apos;d the thought that Winter would be anxious . so he moved on , walking briskly . when he finally came to the garden and had a clear view of the house he could see the french windows were open and Winter was pacing the terrace . Farland hurried across the overgrown lawn and Winter , seeing him , came hurrying down the terrace steps . thank heaven you &apos;re back , Farland . I &apos;ve been so worried ! I was trying to screw up sufficient courage to come and look for you . scared after last night - I have to confess it . you &apos;re not hurt ? he sounded anxious . no . someone was spying , but unfortunately he saw me before I spotted him . chased him as far as the cliff path - and then lost him . did you get a good look at him ? Winter asked eagerly . Farland &apos;s hesitation was brief . the chap had too big a start - plus the advantage of being on familiar ground . there was little to be gained by identifying the intruder as Smail , he felt . 