"I'll give you a lift. You can keep out of the way till he's at leisure."
At this moment one of the police entered, and handed the Superintendent a copy of the Evening Mail.
"It's as you feared, sir," he remarked as he went out.
The Superintendent opened the paper, looked at it for an instant, and then indicated a passage with his forefinger.
"It is rumoured," read Mr. Kilshaw, "that certain very startling facts have come to light regarding the identity of the deceased man Benham, and that the name of a very prominent politician, now holding an exalted office, is likely to be introduced into the case. As the matter will be public property to-morrow, we may be allowed to state that trustworthy reports point to the fact of the Premier being in a position to give some important information as to the past life of the deceased. It is said that a photograph of two persons, one of whom is Mr. Medland, has been discovered among the papers at Mr. Benham's (or we should say Benyon's) lodgings. Further developments of this strange affair will be awaited with interest."
"I wish," commented the Superintendent grimly, "that my men could keep a secret as well as their man can sniff one out."
But Mr. Kilshaw was too excited to listen.
"By Jove," he cried, "the news'll be at the House by now! Come along, man, come along!"