was a remark preposterous on the face of it. What puzzled Jerome
was the purpose; he could think of nothing that would necessitate
such statements and acting. He was certain that the man was sane.

In the light of what came after great stress has been laid by a
certain class upon this incident. We may say that we lean neither
way. We have merely given it in some detail because of that
importance. We have yet no proof of the mystic and until it is
proved, we must lean, like Jerome, upon the cold material. We have
the mystery, but, even at that, we have not the certainty of
murder.

Understand, it was intuition that led Jerome into that memorable
trip to Berkeley; he happened to be going off duty and was drawn
to the man by a chance incident and the fact of his personality.
At this minute, however, he thought no more of him than as an
eccentric, as some refined, strange wonderful gentleman with a
whim for his own brand of humour. Only that could explain it. The
man had an evident curiosity for everything about him, the
buildings, the street, the cars, and the people. Frequently he
would mutter: "Wonderful, wonderful, and all the time we have
never known it. Wonderful!"

As they drew into Lorin the officer ventured a question.

"You have friends in Berkeley? I see you are a stranger. If I may
presume, perhaps I may be of assistance?"

"Well, yes, if--if--do you know of a Dr. Holcomb?"