"It points to that indeed, sir. Now where's he hidden himself? It should not be difficult to find him with all that to go on."
"A tall active strong man who has lived in the Colonies or America; one ought to get him. Has he only one eye, by any chance?"
The reasoner gazed petrified at his counsellor.
"God, but I've just described yoursel', sir!" he cried in an unhappy voice.
"You're determined to hang one of us, Bisset."
For a moment Bisset seemed to find conversation difficult. Then he said miserably:
"So it's no good, and all the alternatives just fa' to pieces."
The extreme dejection of his voice struck the other sharply.
"Alternatives to what?" he asked.
For a few seconds Bisset did not answer.