Part 15 (1/2)

'I never heard the name before,' said the old man in a dazed voice

One of the others spoke up 'That was the Portland Place murder I read about it Good heavens, you must be mad, Sir! Where do you come from?'

'Scotland Yard,' I said

After that for aat his plate and fu with a nut, the very model of innocent bewilderment

Then the plu his words

'Don't get flustered, uncle,' he said 'It is all a ridiculous s happen soht It won't be hard to prove our innocence I can show that I was out of the country on the 23rd of May, and Bob was in a nursing home

You were in London, but you can explain what you were doing'

'Right, Percy! Of course that's easy enough The 23rd! That was the day after Agatha's wedding Let , and lunched at the club with Charlie Syers I reree with ar-box I brought back frohed nervously

'I think, Sir,' said the youngme respectfully, 'you will see you are lish fools of themselves That's so, uncle?'

'Certainly, Bob' The old fellow see his voice

'Certainly, we'll do anything in our power to assist the authorities

But--but this is a bit too et over it'

'How Nellie will chuckle,' said the plump man 'She always said that you would die of boredoot it thick and strong,' and he began to laugh very pleasantly

'By Jove, yes Just think of it! What a story to tell at the club

Really, Mr Hannay, I suppose I should be angry, to show ive you the fright you gavein , it was too confoundedly genuine My heart went into ize and clear out

But I told hing-stock of Britain The light froood, and to cover ot up, walked to the door and switched on the electric light The sudden glarethe three faces

Well, Iof it One was old and bald, one was stout, one was dark and thin There was nothing in their appearance to prevent the the three who had huntedto identify them I simply can't explain why I who, as a roadman, had looked into two pairs of eyes, and as Ned Ainslie into another pair, why I, who have a good memory and reasonable powers of observation, could find no satisfaction They seemed exactly what they professed to be, and I could not have sworn to one of thes on the walls, and a picture of an old lady in a bib above theto connect thearette-box beside me, and I saw that it had been won by Percival Appleton, Esq, of the St Bede's Club, in a golf tournament

I had to keep a fir out of that house

'Well,' said the old man politely, 'are you reassured by your scrutiny, Sir?'

I couldn't find a word

'I hope you'll find it consistent with your duty to drop this ridiculous business Iit must be to respectable people'

I shookman 'This is a bit too thick!'

'Do you propose to march us off to the police station?' asked the pluht be the best way out of it, but I suppose you won't be content with the local branch I have the right to ask to see your warrant, but I don't wish to cast any aspersions upon you You are only doing your duty But you'll admit it's horribly aard What do you propose to do?'

There was nothing to do except to call in my men and have them arrested, or to confess my blunder and clear out I felt mesmerized by the whole place, by the air of obvious innocence--not innocence merely, but frank honest bewilderment and concern in the three faces