The thought flashed through Calton's brain as to whether the young man before him was guilty or not, and he was obliged to confess that things looked very black against him.
"Then what the newspapers said was correct?"
"Partly."
"Ah!" Calton drew a long breath—here was a ray of hope.
"You did not know it was Whyte when you found him lying drunk near the Scotch Church?"
"No, I did not. Had I known it was he I would not have picked him up."
"Of course, you recognised him afterwards?"
"Yes I did. And, as the paper stated, I dropped him and walked away."
"Why did you leave him so abruptly?"
Brian looked at his questioner in some surprise.