A. went over and stood by the window, looking moodily out.
"It is merely a necessity," said C.
"The necessity of a necessity," suggested D. happily.
"Perhaps you are not aware," said B., addressing himself to the man standing at the window, "that the suggestion of arresting Salt did not come from us in the first case."
"Is that so?" replied A., coming back into the room. "I certainly assumed that it did."
"On the contrary," explained B., "it was Inspector Moeletter who reported to his superiors that he had succeeded in identifying the mysterious man who was seen with Leslie Garnet, the artist, about the time of his death. He would have got his warrant in the ordinary way, only in view of the remarkable position that Salt occupies just now, Stafford very naturally communicated with us."
"The only point that troubles us," remarked C. reflectively, "is that none of us can persuade himself in the remotest degree that Salt killed Garnet."
"I certainty require to have the evidence before I can subscribe to that," said B. "The man who is daily killing hundreds——"
"Ah, that is the difference," commented D.
"Where are the Monmouth colliers now?" asked C., after a pause.