"Why, Gaspard was one of Medland's organisers. I saw him with both Medland and Norburn on Saturday."
"I don't suppose they were planning to murder this Benham. Indeed, I don't see that the thing can have been political at all. What did it matter whether Benham lived or died?"
"I don't see that it did, except to Benham," assented the Captain. "But what's become of Gaspard?"
"Ah, that they don't know. He's supposed to have taken ship, and they've cabled to search all ships that left the port that morning."
"He'll find the man in blue—or the local equivalent—on the wharf," said the Captain.
"Rather a jar that, Sir Robert, when you're in from a voyage. What are they doing now?"
"Well, the Superintendent said they were going to have a thorough search through the dead man's lodgings, to see if they could find out anything about him which would throw light on the motive. The police don't think much of the political theory of the crime."
"Dashed nonsense, I should think," said the Captain, and he sauntered off to play billiards.
"That young man," said the Chief Justice, "is really not a fool, though he does his best to look like one."
"That queer conduct seems to me rather common in young men at home. I noticed it when I was over."