Barnes protested that such a thought had never entered his head.
“I simply told him,” he declared hotly, “that I had an important engagement”–––
“Looking for a policeman, he says.”
“For a friend. I may have said policeman––I may have said anything in such a beastly situation. I am sure that when the captain hears me he will understand immediately.”
“That may be true, sir,” said the lieutenant politely, “but the captain is out at present and won’t be back 185 till after midnight. If you want to, you can sit in the back room and wait for him.”
Further protestations were unavailing. With a sigh of despair Barnes permitted himself to be led to the back room, where he dropped down on a chair and looked savagely about him.
The room was empty and there was nothing to gaze at save four blank walls and a black cat sitting in a corner idly washing its paws. Now and then a door opened, a face peered in and the door shut again. Somewhere a clock ticked dolefully.
An hour passed while the young man sought in vain to enchain his incoherent thoughts. He could think of nothing vividly. He could recall nothing at all.
Whenever the wail of that infant the matron was caring for reached him he writhed and ground his teeth.
In this sad plight he remained until a door near him opened and a man in plain clothes came stealthily in. He walked straight to Barnes, bent down and whispered: