“Yes,” said Baumann. “I didn’t recognise him. He twirled a great staff round his head and frightened me out of my life.”
“Yes, that’s it,” said Gerard. “A little thing in one of these reports reminded me of your story. I wanted to be sure of it. Thank you.”
Baumann rose to go and stopped with his hand upon the door-knob.
“A great loss, Captain Ravenel. There is no news of him, I suppose?”
Gerard shook his head.
“None.”
“Is it known whom he dined with that last night he was seen?”
“Yes. Si El Hadj Arrifa.”
Baumann nodded.
“Si El Hadj Arrifa was one of Captain Ravenel’s closest friends in Fez. But there’s another closer still of whom you might enquire.”