"I am afraid I cannot do anything of the kind. I am too busy to spare the time. Besides, Ananda's movements really do not concern me or the college."
"It was not my intention to ask you to leave your duties, sir."
"Then how can I help in the search for the lost man? He has probably left the town, where as you yourself say he is unpopular. Under the circumstances it is the best thing that he can do. Have you inquired at the station if he were among the passengers who were travelling by the mails last night?"
"He can't have taken either of the trains, north or south, as he was seen in his room after their departure."
"Have you any suspicion where he can have gone?" asked Wenaston, trying to get at what was at the back of his visitor's mind.
There was a definite pause before the reply was given.
"We have reason to think, sir, that Ananda is here."
"Here!" repeated Wenaston, astounded and not altogether pleased. "I don't understand what you mean; what grounds you have for saying so. Have you thoroughly searched his father's house?"
"We have hunted everywhere."
"And why do you think he is here?"