"I don't know yet. How should I know?" replied Drek with a vexed air. "Now, look here, Mr. Mexton; I'm not going to answer any more questions. You'll put all I say in your paper."
"I'll keep out anything you wish, Mr. Inspector," said Paul, who saw the necessity of conciliating the man; "and, as a matter of fact, I am here not so much to get copy as to see Miss Link."
"Why do you wish to see Miss Link?" asked the inspector suspiciously.
"For the very natural reason that she is in trouble, and that I am her oldest friend. You don't object to my seeing her?"
"She'll object herself," replied Drek grimly. "At present she shut herself up in her room and refuses to see anyone."
"What about Dr. Lester?"
"Oh!"--Drek shrugged his shoulders--"the doctor is in his consulting-room--drinking!"
"What does he say about the murder?"
"Nothing. I can get no sense out of him; the man's brain is upset."
"I don't wonder at it," rejoined Paul drily; "the tragic death of his daughter is quite enough to upset it. Is the--the--body in the house?"