"Of what, sir?" asked Luke.
Then as he saw the other man's eyes wandering to the drawer of the desk, he said simply:
"Of suicide, you mean, sir?"
Colonel Harris nodded.
"Oh, no," rejoined Luke. And he added after a slight pause: "Not at present."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean that I shouldn't exactly hang for the murder of the Clapham bricklayer. I shouldn't let it come to that. I am sorry I did not manage to get away to-night. I thought they meant to let me."
"I think they did mean to. Some blunder I suppose on the part of the subordinates."
"I suppose so."
"Well, Luke," said Colonel Harris with a deep sigh, "I have known you ever since you were a child, but, by G—d, man! I confess that I don't understand you."