"I know that now, although I was not aware of it at the time."
"What, were you at the Murdocks' at the same time as I was?" asked Sprague, surprised.
"I had just come from there when I met you. I was in Murdock's study while you were—er—busy in the parlor."
"In Murdock's study? How long were you there?"
"About half an hour, I should judge," replied Sturgis, "and perhaps fifteen minutes more in the hall, while Murdock was engaged."
"I suppose Chatham was still with him," mused Sprague.
Sturgis started at the name.
"Chatham!" he ejaculated; "what do you know about Chatham?"
"What, are you interested in Chatham?" asked the artist, curiously. "I know very little about him, only that he is one of my disappointed rivals."
And he thereupon related to the reporter what he knew of Chatham's suit.