I thought of you.
At three o'clock this afternoon they came for me and I was led
back to the room belonging to Inspector Bray. When I entered,
however, the inspector was not there--only Colonel Hughes,
immaculate and self-possessed, as usual, gazing out the window
into the cheerless stone court. He turned when I entered. I
suppose I must have had a most woebegone appearance, for a look of
regret crossed his face.
"My dear fellow," he cried, "my most humble apologies! I intended
to have you released last night. But, believe me, I have been
frightfully busy."
I said nothing. What could I say? The fact that he had been busy
struck me as an extremely silly excuse. But the inference that my
escape from the toils of the law was imminent set my heart to
thumping.
"I fear you can never forgive me for throwing you over as I did
yesterday," he went on. "I can only say that it was absolutely
necessary--as you shall shortly understand."
I thawed a bit. After all, there was an unmistakable sincerity in
his voice and manner.
"We are waiting for Inspector Bray," continued the colonel. "I
take it you wish to see this thing through?"
"To the end," I answered.
"Naturally. The inspector was called away yesterday immediately
after our interview with him.
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