The ex-captain of territorials selected a cigarette with care from his case.
"Yes?" he inquired politely.
The old baronet cleared his throat. He glanced a little whimsically at his companion.
"It's been a hobby, of course, purely a hobby; but in an amateurish sort of way as a criminologist I have spent a great deal of time and money in—"
"By Jove! Really!" exclaimed Captain Newcombe. "I didn't know, Sir Harris, that you—" He paused suddenly in confusion. "That's anything but a compliment to your reputation though, I'm afraid, isn't it? A bit raw of me! I—I'm sorry, sir."
"Not at all!" said the old baronet pleasantly; and then, with a wry smile: "You need not feel badly. In certain quarters much more intimate with the subject than you could be supposed to be, I am equally unrecognised."
"It's very good of you to let me down so easily," said the ex-captain of territorials contritely. "Will you go on, sir? You were saying that you did not believe these crimes were being perpetrated by one in the same sphere of life as those who were being victimised. Why is that, sir? The theory seemed rather logical."
"Because," said the old baronet quietly, "I believe I know the man who is guilty."
The ex-captain of territorials stared.
"Good Lord, sir!" he gasped out. "You—you can't mean that?"