I was employed during Friday in visiting my solicitors and the detective’s officers, as well as in making inquiries at banks, post-office, and smaller hotels, but without acquiring the least information likely to prove serviceable.
At an early hour the next morning I started out with a conviction that if Hookor were in Canada I should obtain some clue of his whereabouts before night.
This presentiment did not mislead me, for before three o’clock I effected his “capture,” and had him closeted in my solicitor’s office in Little St. James street, with O’Leary and a brother-detective in close attendance.
I will record the events as they occurred that day, which was one of much anxiety and excitement.
When I reached Mr. Allan’s office I was informed by the head clerk that a letter had been received from their establishment at Quebec, in reply to their inquiries, containing some important and satisfactory information.
It is true they had lost all traces of the fugitive on his landing at Quebec, and consequently could not have rendered any assistance but for a singular coincidence which occurred a few days previously at Toronto.
The purser of the Belgian had occasion to visit the City of the Lakes, and whilst there he saw and had recognized Hooker as one of the passengers.
The latter believed himself to be perfectly safe, and, not having the slightest idea that any one was in pursuit of him, he invited the purser to take some refreshment, and then voluntarily entered into conversation about himself and family, mentioning, among other things, that his wife, sister-in-law, and children were at the Montreal Hotel, in Montreal, where he intended shortly to join them.
The purser returned to Quebec, and, fortunately for me, was at the office when the letter of inquiry from Montreal was opened. He immediately communicated the above facts to Mr. Allan.
I hastened with the welcome intelligence to my solicitors. It was difficult to decide upon the best course to adopt.