was resumed a week later, or before the magistrate, or before a judge and
jury. Every scrap of evidence against him was produced before the
coroner: it was obvious that the police could rake up no more, unless
indeed they could prove him to have hidden Ashton's remaining valuables
somewhere which was ostensibly an impossibility. And the evidence of Hyde
himself had impressed the court. Two days' rest and refreshment, even in
a prison and on prison fare, had pulled him together, and he had given
his evidence clearly and confidently. Viner had seen that people were
impressed by it: they had been impressed, too, by the evidence
volunteered by the two Australians. And when the coroner announced that
he should adjourn the inquiry for a week, the folk who had crowded the
court went away asking each other not if Hyde was guilty, but what was
this secret of which Ashton had boasted the possession?

Drillford caught Viner up as he walked down the street and smiled
grimly at him.

"Well, you're doing your best for him, and no mistake, Mr. Viner," he
said. "He's a lucky chap to have found such a friend!"

"He's as innocent as I am," answered Viner. "Look here; if you
police want to do justice, why don't you try to track the man whom
Hyde has told of?"

"What clue have we?" exclaimed Drillford almost contemptuously. "A tall
man in black clothes, muffled to his eyes! But I'll tell you what, Mr.
Viner," he added with a grin: "as you're so confident, why don't you
find him?"

"Perhaps I shall," said Viner, quietly.