He sat reflecting for a moment, and then turned to his manager with a sudden question.
"Have you heard all this about my cousin James ?" he asked with sharp directness.
Appleyard lifted a couple of newspapers from his desk.
"No more than what's in these," he answered.

"One tells of his sudden death at Hull; the other begins to hint that there was something queer about it." "Queer!" exclaimed Allerdyke.

"Aye, and more than queer, my lad.

Our James was murdered! Now, then, Ambler, I've come here to tell you all the story--you must listen to every detail.

I know your brains--keep 'em fixed on what I'm going to tell; hear it all; weigh it up, and then tell me what you make of it; for I'm damned if I can make either head or tail, back, side, or front of the whole thing--so far.