To say that Garden was glad to meet Babcock would be to put it too strongly; no one was ever glad to meet Babcock. But to say that he was indifferent to the chance of blabbing would not be true; no one is indifferent to the chance of blabbing.
"I say, Babcock," he said, checking the advancing figure with his raised hand, "old Higginson 's gone mad."
Babcock smiled uglily.
"Yes, he has," said Garden, "saying all sorts of things about that little trouble he had. Saw ghosts!"
"They all do," said Babcock grimly.
"Oh, yes, I know," answered Garden, eager for the importance of his tale, "but he 's got it all pat! Says he can prove it!"
Garden nodded mysteriously.
"He gave me some details, you know," went on Garden most irresponsibly; then he pulled himself up. He wanted to have something important to say, but he was a nervous man in handling those tarradiddles which are the bulk of interesting conversation.
Babcock looked sceptical.
"What sort of details?" he sneered.
"Oh, I 'm not allowed to tell you," said
