“You have found it out at last!” cried Mrs. Hobbs, with enthusiasm.
“On the contrary, Bell, I have found out nothing. So far, I only suppose. And Suppose never hanged a man yet; or, at least, he should not have done so. What I have done is to find a man and a motive. Here is a man who, in the hearing of several, had sworn to marry the girl, and who, if he was the author of the undiscovered crimes I have told you of, was quite capable of the third.
“But I am still in the dark as to how he could have committed it. Anyhow, it is the first hopeful sign I have got for days of labour, and on the strength of it, Bell, I bought the prawns. I must pat myself on the back sometimes.”
CHAPTER XXVIII
SOFT SAM
Professor Norris had not long to wait in the Golden Bar before an habitué was found who gave him directions how to find Soft Sam.
“You go in the Domain—now’s just about his time—and on a seat near the cricket-ground you will find a white-haired old man acting the goat with a lot of kids. That’s him.”
The directions impressed the Professor as somewhat singular, but such as they were he followed them, and, sure enough, he found just the group that had been described. He paused in astonishment for a few minutes to watch the old gentleman, who was apparently instructing two juveniles in knickerbockers the preliminaries in the noble art of self-defence.
“That is surprising,” said the Professor to himself, “the finest bump of benevolence I ever saw and teaching boys to fight!”
“I have come,” said the Professor, introducing himself, “on behalf of Mrs. Booth, the widow of a late friend of yours. She wishes you to help her in her present difficulty, that you have no doubt heard of.”
“Oh, yes, I heard about it,” nodded Sam.