“That is a question for you to answer.
“Oh! drunk again, I suppose,” he said. Then he did as I had done, bent down and examined him. A few seconds later he stepped or reeled back, looking as frightened as a man could be, and exclaiming—
“Dead as a stone, by God! Dead these three hours or more.”
“Quite so,” I answered, “but what killed him?”
“How should I know?” he asked savagely. “Do you suspect me of poisoning him?”
“My mind is open,” I replied; “but as you quarrelled so bitterly last night, others might.”
The bolt went home; he saw his danger.
“Probably the old sot died in a fit, or of too much brandy. How can one know without a post-mortem? But that mustn’t be made by me. I’m off to inform the magistrate and get hold of another doctor. Let the body remain as it is until I return.”
I reflected quickly. Ought I to let him go or not? If he had any hand in this business, doubtless he intended to escape. Well, supposing this were so and he did escape, that would be a good thing for Heda, and really it was no affair of mine to bring the fellow to justice. Moreover there was nothing to show that he was guilty; his whole manner seemed to point another way, though of course he might be acting.
“Very well,” I replied, “but return as quickly as possible.”