The light seemed to daze him.
He glanced foolishly round the room, blinking his small eyes.
He caught sight of me, and I gave him a weak, rather tremulous smile.
I don't know if he recognised me or not.
He just blinked his eyes.
Then Favell walked slowly towards him and stood in front of him.
'Hullo,' he said; 'how's life treated you since we last met?'
Ben stared at him.
There was no recognition on his face.
He did not answer.
'Well?' said Favell, 'you know who I am, don't you?'
Ben went on twisting his sou'wester.
'Eh?' he said.
'Have a cigarette,' said Favell, handing him the box.
Ben glanced at Maxim and Frank.
'All right,' said Maxim, 'take as many as you like.'
Ben took four and stuck two behind each ear.
Then he stood twisting his cap again.
'You know who I am don't you?' repeated Favell.
Still Ben did not answer.
Colonel Julyan walked across to him.
'You shall go home in a few moments, Ben,' he said.
'No one is going to hurt you.
We just want you to answer one or two questions.
You know Mr Favell, don't you?'
This time Ben shook his head.
'I never seen 'un,' he said.
'Don't be a bloody fool,' said Favell roughly; 'you know you've seen me.
You've seen me go to the cottage on the beach, Mrs de Winter's cottage.
You've seen me there, haven't you?'
'No,' said Ben.
'I never seen no one.'
'You damned half-witted liar,' said Favell, 'are you going to stand there and say you never saw me, last year, walk through those woods with Mrs de Winter, and go into the cottage?
Didn't we catch you once, peering at us from the window?'
'Eh?' said Ben.
'A convincing witness,' said Colonel Julyan sarcastically.
Favell swung round on him.
'It's a put-up job,' he said.
'Someone has got at this idiot and bribed him too.
I tell you he's seen me scores of times.
Here. Will this make you remember?'
He fumbled in his hip-pocket and brought out a note-case.
He flourished a pound note in front of Ben.
'Now do you remember me?' he said.
Ben shook his head.
'I never seen 'un,' he said, and then he took hold of Frank's arm.
'Has he come here to take me to the asylum?' he said.
'No,' said Frank. 'No, of course not, Ben.'
'I don't want to go to the asylum,' said Ben.
'They'm cruel to folk in there.