“Yes, he did!” answered Glassdale.
“Anything that seems to relate to his death—and the mystery about it?” inquired Folliot.
“I think so,” said Glassdale. “Upon consideration, I think so!”
“Ah—and what might it be, now?” continued Folliot. He gave Glassdale a look which seemed to denote and imply several things. “It might be to your advantage to explain a bit, you know,” he added. “One has to be a little—vague, eh?”
“There was a certain man that Braden was very anxious to find,” said Glassdale. “He'd been looking for him for a good many years.”
“A man?” asked Folliot. “One?”
“Well, as a matter of fact, there were two,” admitted Glassdale, “but there was one in particular. The other—the second—so Braden said, didn't matter; he was or had been, only a sort of cat's-paw of the man he especially wanted.”
“I see,” said Folliot. He pulled out a cigar case and offered a cigar to his visitor, afterwards lighting one himself. “And what did Braden want that man for?” he asked.
Glassdale waited until his cigar was in full going order before he answered this question. Then he replied in one word.
“Revenge!”