It was just before the clouds rushed upon the moon.

I could see everything quite plainly." My companion nodded and I went breathlessly on.

Any question of his staggered me.

I was so ignorant of the facts at his command, of the facts at any one's command outside my own experience and observation, that the simplest admission I made might lead directly to some clew of whose very existence I was unaware.

I was not even able to conjecture by what chance or at whose suggestion the police had raided the place and discovered the tragedy which had given point to that raid.