to the weeping sisters. "Cheer up, till I return--I am going round to
the police."




CHAPTER XVI

THE OUTHOUSE


Near the police-station Viner fell in with his solicitor, Felpham, who
turned a corner in a great hurry. Felpham's first glance showed his
client that their purposes were in common.

"Seen that paragraph in the evening papers?" said Felpham without
preface. "By George! that's serious news! What a pity that Hyde ever made
that statement about his doings on the night of the murder! It would have
been far better if he'd held his tongue altogether."

"He insisted on it--in the end," answered Viner. "And in my opinion he
was right. But--you think this is very serious?"

"Serious? Yes!" exclaimed Felpham. "He says he spent the night in a shed
in the Harrow Road district. Now the things that were taken from Ashton's
body are discovered in such a place--nay, the very place; for if you
remember, Hyde particularized his whereabouts. What's the obvious
conclusion? What can anybody think?"

"I see two or three obvious conclusions, and I think several things,"