The police declared that the burglary had taken place the previous night about nine o’clock at a City house, and that he was seen and nearly captured. Why, a dozen people could prove that he was at Dr Stonor’s the whole evening.
He rose and tapped sharply at his cell door.
“Now then,” said a rough voice. “What is it?”
“Kindly ask the inspector to come here for a moment,” said Huish.
The officer on night duty came from his desk where he had been entering the last charge. “Well, sir?” he said, with official brevity.
“Sorry to trouble you,” said Huish, “but that burglary—when was it?”
“Nine o’clock last night—that is, the night before last, for it is now four o’clock.”
“Thank God,” said Huish, and he lay down upon that peculiarly soft bed provided by a humane Government at police-stations for arrested people, and slept soundly for hours.
“Precious eager to know when, the crack was done,” said the officer, as he looked in at the cell. “Clever dodge—going to try an alibi?”
What was intended for a preliminary examination took place in the course of the afternoon, and the officer in charge of the case brought forward two or three witnesses to give a sufficiency of evidence to justify a remand, informing the magistrate that he believed that he should be able to produce a long catalogue of crime against the prisoner, who had succeeded in eluding the vigilance of the police for some time past.