"All right!" muttered Hyde doggedly. "But--I know what I saw. And if you
want to help me, Viner, find that man--because he must have come straight
away from the body!"

Drillford turned to Viner, glancing at the same time at the clock.

"Do you want to ask him any more questions?" he inquired. "No? Well,
there's just one I want to ask. What were you doing with that knife in
your possession?" he went on, turning to Hyde. "Be careful, now; you
heard what the doctor said about it, in court?"

"I've nothing to conceal," replied Hyde. "You heard me say just now that
I'd had engagements in the States. I bought that knife when I was out
West--more as a curiosity than anything--and I've carried it in my pocket
ever since."

Drillford looked again at Viner.

"He'll have to go, now," he said. "If you're going to employ legal help
for him, the solicitor will know where and when he can see him." He
paused on his way to the door and looked a little doubtfully at his
prisoner. "I'll give you a bit of advice," he said, "not as an official,
but as an individual. If you want to clear yourself, you'd better give
all the information you can."

"I'll send my own solicitor to you, Hyde, at once," said Viner. "Be
absolutely frank with him about everything."

When Viner was once more alone with Drillford, the two men looked at
each other.