disturbed, and I turned to old Walters. His face was like this
paper on which I write; his knees trembled beneath him.

"Walters," said I, "we must leave things just as they are until the
police arrive. Come with me while I notify Scotland Yard."

"Very good, sir," said Walters.

We went down then to the telephone in the lower hall, and I called
up the Yard. I was told that an inspector would come at once and
I went back to my room to wait for him.

You can well imagine the feelings that were mine as I waited.
Before this mystery should be solved, I foresaw that I might be
involved to a degree that was unpleasant if not dangerous. Walters
would remember that I first came here as one acquainted with the
captain. He had noted, I felt sure, the lack of intimacy between
the captain and myself, once the former arrived from India. He
would no doubt testify that I had been most anxious to obtain
lodgings in the same house with Fraser-Freer. Then there was the
matter of my letter from Archie. I must keep that secret, I felt
sure. Lastly, there was not a living soul to back me up in my story
of the quarrel that preceded the captain's death, of the man who
escaped by way of the garden.

Alas, thought I, even the most stupid policeman can not fail to look
upon me with the eye of suspicion!

In about twenty minutes three men arrived from Scotland Yard. By
that time I had worked myself up into a state of absurd nervousness.