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The scientific mind is equal to every emergency.

‘Bradshaw,’ shouted Blaize through the keyhole.

‘Sir?’

‘Are you there?’

I should imagine that Bradshaw was growing tired of this question by this time. Besides, it cast aspersions on the veracity of Gerard and Mellish. Bradshaw, with perfect politeness, hastened to inform the gentleman that he was there.

‘Have you a piece of paper?’

‘Will an envelope do, sir?’

‘Bless the boy, anything will do so long as it is paper.’

Dear me, I thought, is it as bad as all that? Is Blaize, in despair of ever rescuing the unfortunate prisoner, going to ask him to draw up a ‘last dying words’ document, to be pushed under the door and despatched to his sorrowing guardian?

‘Put it over your hand, and then shoot back the bolt.’

‘But, sir, the electricity.’

‘Pooh, boy!’

The scientific mind is always intolerant of lay ignorance.

‘Pooh, boy, paper is a non-conductor. You won’t get hurt.’

Bradshaw apparently acted on his instructions. From the other side of the door came the sharp sound of the bolt as it was shot back, and at the same time the light ceased to shine through the keyhole. A moment later the handle turned, and Bradshaw stepped forth–free!

‘Dear me,’ said Mellish. ‘Now I never knew that before, Blaize. Remarkable. But this ought to be seen to. In the meantime, I had better ask the Headmaster to give out that the Museum is closed until further notice, I think.’

And closed the Museum has been ever since. That further notice has never been given. And yet nobody seems to feel as if an essential part of their life had ceased to be, so to speak. Curious. Bradshaw, after a short explanation, was allowed to go away without a stain–that is to say, without any additional stain–on his character. We left the authorities discussing the matter, and went downstairs.

‘Sixpence isn’t enough,’ I said, ‘take this penny. It’s all I’ve got. You shall have the sixpence on Saturday.’

‘Thanks,’ said Bradshaw.’ Was the Thucydides paper pretty warm?’

‘Warmish. But, I say, didn’t you get a beastly shock when you locked the door?’

‘I did the week before last, the first time I ever went to the place. This time I was more or less prepared for it. Blaize seems to think that paper dodge a special invention of his own. He’ll be taking out a patent for it one of these days. Why, every kid knows that paper doesn’t conduct electricity.’

‘I didn’t,’ I said honestly.

‘You don’t know much,’ said Bradshaw, with equal honesty.

‘I don’t,’ I replied. ‘Bradshaw, you’re a great man, but you missed the best part of it all.’

‘What, the Thucydides paper?’ asked he with a grin.

‘No, you missed seeing Gerard jump quite six feet.’

Bradshaw’s face expressed keen disappointment.

‘No, did he really? Oh, I say, I wish I’d seen it.’

The moral of which is that the wicked do not always prosper. If Bradshaw had not been in the Museum, he might have seen Gerard jump six feet, which would have made him happy for weeks. On second thoughts, though, that does not work out quite right, for if Bradshaw had not been in the Museum, Gerard would not have jumped at all. No, better put it this way. I was virtuous, and I had the pleasure of witnessing the sight I have referred to. But then there was the Thucydides paper, which Bradshaw missed but which I did not. No. On consideration, the moral of this story shall be withdrawn and submitted to a committee of experts. Perhaps they will be able to say what it is.