"More than that, sir, he was makin' threats."
"Threats! What sort of threats?"
"Nothing very definite, sir, but it sounded to me as if he'd be glad enough to set fire to this place if he got a good chance—and he said he wouldn't come back to work at the old wages, not if he had to catch you by yourself some night."
"Catch me by myself—! And then what?"
"That was as far as he got, sir. They saw you comin' then and he didn't say anything more."
"Ah!" There was derision in the monosyllable, but a thoughtful expression in the hard gray eyes indicated that Varr had found food for reflection in Nelson's story. What direction his thoughts were taking he did not choose to reveal at the moment, but shot another question at the watchman instead. "Doesn't Maxon wear a dark-blue flannel shirt?"
"Usually, sir; he had on a gray one to-day."
"Ah!" It was a note of triumph this time. "Have you seen Steiner this afternoon?"
"Steiner, sir? The Chief of Police?"
"The Chief of Police—certainly! Not the Sultan of Turkey!"