“Now, sir, I am ready to attend to you. Will you state your business with me?”
“A man named Peter Hart entered your house this morning, and shortly after left, having in his possession £10 in bank notes, which he declared had been given him by you. Is that actually the case?”
I had expected Mr Bannister’s face to lighten up and express astonishment as I proceeded, but instead it became darker and more troubled.
“Why do you ask?” he at length answered in a helpless tone.
“Because we know him to be a daring criminal, and suspect that the money was obtained by robbery, and possibly without your knowledge.”
“Is that all that brought you here?” he demanded, with a look of intense relief. “Did he make no other statement of any kind?”
“None except that we could refer the matter to you for confirmation of his statement, and for that purpose I have called.”
“Oh, if that is all,” he readily answered, looking now positively radiant, “I can readily relieve your anxiety. I did pay him the money, freely and willingly, for work done.”
“For work done!” I echoed, a good deal staggered, and thoroughly puzzled. “Have you any objection to say what kind of work it was?”
“I have. It is not necessary to go into details,” he coldly returned.