"That's my business," retorted Maunders doggedly. "Your business is our business," interposed Vernon quietly.
"I fail to see that."
"You fail to see a good many things; but don't be afraid, I shall make everything clear to you in good time."
"Are you here as my old school friend?" said Maunders, whining sentimentally, "or as Nemo, the detective?"
"You will soon learn. But of one thing you may be certain, that I am no friend of yours. Can you wonder at it, seeing what I discovered yesterday?"
"I can explain everything."
"Good! Colonel Towton and I await your explanation."
Maunders again cast a look at door and window and again saw that there was no hope of escape. "What do you wish to know?" was his sullen request.
"In the first place, how you come to be here."
"That's easy. I started on Saturday to go down to Yorkshire, as I told you how I intended to go. But news came that my aunt was ill and wished to see me at once. I turned back at the station and went to Hampstead. Then I met Hest at the bazaar yesterday----"