"And his address is?"
His face fell again. His information was not quite as helpful as he had expected it would be.
"There I can't help you, I'm sorry to say. He bought a packet of paper and envelopes and the Evening Mercury and then left the shop. I was so struck by his appearance that I went to the door and watched him cross the road."
"And in which direction did he go?"
"Over to Podgers' chemist shop across the way. That was the last I saw of him."
"I'm obliged to you, Mr. Maxwell," I said, shaking him by the hand. "But I'm sorry you can't tell us something more definite about him." Then turning to the Inspector: "I suppose we had better go off and find Podgers. But if we have to spend much more time in rushing about like this we shall be certain to lose them altogether."
"Let us be off to Podgers', then, as fast as we can go."
Bidding Mr. Maxwell good-bye, we set off again, and in ten minutes had arrived at the shop and had Mr. Podgers downstairs. We explained our errand briefly, and gave a minute description of the man we wanted.
"I remember him perfectly," said the sedate Podgers. "He came into my shop last night and purchased a bottle of chloroform."
"You made him sign the poison book, of course?"