The man kept peering at him in a very disagreeable manner, and after a few moments, he said in a careless tone,—
“Heard of the murder?”
“What murder?” gasped Gray.
“In the Strand—Vaughan’s murder I mean—strange affair, very!”
“No—I know nothing of it,” said Gray.
“Odd, that—the whole town knows of it. It’s crying about the streets, and what’s the strangest thing of all, nobody seems to know who did it.”
“Indeed?”
“No, the fellow was a complete stranger, and the only man who gives anything like a description of him, is a fellow whom he knocked down near Arundel-street.”
“Yes—indeed,” was all Gray could find breath to say, for he expected each moment that the man would pounce upon him, crying, “You are the murderer—I have been only amusing myself a little with your fears.”
“It’s odd altogether,” continued the man, “and there’s fifty pounds reward now offered by Vaughan’s relations for the man, which, together with what government will give at his conviction, will make a good round sum.”