By this time Theydon was stung into a species of revolt. It was he,
not Forbes, who should be snapping out searching questions.

"I regret to say that my nerves were not sufficiently under control at
Waterloo that I should listen carefully to each word," he said, almost
stiffly. "Bates had picked up such information as was available; but
he, though an ex-sergeant in the Army, was so upset as to be hardly
coherent. When I meet the detectives in the course of another hour I
shall probably gather something definite and reliable in the way of
details."

Forbes laid the pipe which he had filled but not lighted on the table.
He poured out a glass of port and drank it.

"Try that," he said, pushing the decanter toward Theydon. "They cannot
trouble you greatly. You have so little to tell."

"No, thanks. Nothing more for me tonight until the Scotland Yard men
have cleared out."

Forbes rose as he spoke and strode the length of the room and back
with the air of a man debating some weighty and difficult point.

"Mr. Theydon," he said, at last, halting in front of the younger man
and gazing down at him with a direct intensity that was highly
embarrassing to one who had good cause to connect him with the actual
crime. "I want you to do me a favor-- a great favor. It was in my mind
at first to ask you to permit me to go with you to Innesmore Mansions,
and to be present during the interview with the detectives. But a man
in my position must be circumspect. It would, perhaps, be unwise to