“Something of that sort,” agreed Mitchington. “It's being said, anyway, that Braden was at Ransford's house, and presumably saw him, and that Ransford, accordingly, knows something about him which he hasn't told. Now—what do you know? Do you know if Ransford and Braden did meet that morning?”
“Not at Ransford's house, anyway,” answered Bryce promptly. “I can prove that. But since this rumour has got out, I'll tell you what I do know, and what the truth is. Braden did come to Ransford's—not to the house, but to the surgery. He didn't see Ransford—Ransford had gone out, across the Close. Braden saw—me!”
“Bless me!—I didn't know that,” remarked Mitchington. “You never mentioned it.”
“You'll not wonder that I didn't,” said Bryce, laughing lightly, “when I tell you what the man wanted.”
“What did he want, then?” asked Mitchington.
“Merely to be told where the Cathedral Library was,” answered Bryce.
Ransford, watching Mary Bewery, saw her cheeks flush, and knew that Bryce was cheerfully telling lies. But Mitchington evidently had no suspicion.
“That all?” he asked. “Just a question?”
“Just a question—that question,” replied Bryce. “I pointed out the Library—and he walked away. I never saw him again until I was fetched to him—dead. And I thought so little of the matter that—well, it never even occurred to me to mention it.”
“Then—though he did call—he never saw Ransford?” asked the inspector.