hope to yet,” Fotherby replied with a certain air of pride.

“I am sure you shall,” Portland concurred and smiled slightly. “Are you busy here?”

“Too busy to leave,” Fotherby whispered. “But too idle to be engaged.”

“Then perhaps you can in the least advise me.” He carried another chair over to where Fotherby was seated and sat facing him. “Three times now I have been called out because Cullington has tried to strike people with his weapon.”

“Cullington is the man who cut you?”

“Indeed. But he is not conscious of it. He commits all these crimes in his sleep and has little or no control over his actions. But I am not sure I can contain this secret any longer. He is becoming a danger to the entire compan...

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