I also recall that he mentioned how long he had been in Interlaken, and that he said he expected to reach London about the first of August." "The first of August," repeated the colonel.

"That is to-morrow.

Now--if you'll be so kind--just what happened last night ?" Again I ran over the events of that tragic evening--the quarrel; the heavy figure in the hall; the escape by way of the seldom-used gate.
"My boy," said Colonel Hughes as he rose to go, "the threads of this tragedy stretch far--some of them to India; some to a country I will not name.

I may say frankly that I have other and greater interest in the matter than that of the captain's friend.

For the present that is in strict confidence between us; the police are well-meaning, but they sometimes blunder.