The reporter left his new-made friend a short time afterwards,
and took a hansom to his office. His newspaper at once issued a
special edition, giving an interview between their representative
and Mr. James B. Coulson, a personal friend of the murdered man.
It was, after all, something of a scoop, for not one of the other
passengers had been found who was in a position to say anything
at all about him. The immediate effect of the interview, however,
was to procure for Mr. Coulson a somewhat bewildering succession
of callers. The first to arrive was a gentleman who introduced
himself as Mr. Jacks, and whose card, sent back at first, was
retendered in a sealed envelope with Scotland Yard scrawled
across the back of it. Mr. Coulson, who was in the act of
changing his clothes, interviewed Mr. Jacks in his chamber.

"Mr. Coulson," the Inspector said, "I am visiting you on behalf
of Scotland Yard. We understand that you had some acquaintance
with Mr. Hamilton Fynes, and we hope that you will answer a few
questions for us."

Mr. Coulson sat down upon a trunk with his hairbrushes in his
hand.

"Well," he declared, "you detectives do get to know things, don't
you?"

"Nothing so remarkable in that, Mr. Coulson," Inspector Jacks
remarked pleasantly. "A newspaper man had been before me, I see."

Mr. Coulson nodded.