“I was thinking of something else,” said Marsland.
“What sort of man was Brett to look at?” asked Crewe of the inspector.
“About the same age as Lumsden—just under thirty, I should say. A thin, slight, gentlemanly looking fellow. Rather a better class than poor Lumsden. I often wondered what they had in common.”
Crewe, who was watching the effect of this description on Marsland, pressed for further particulars.
“Average height?” he asked.
“A little under,” replied the inspector. “Dark complexion with a dark moustache—what there was of it.”
“I think you said he had been wounded and captured by the Germans?” said Marsland.
“Tortured rather than wounded,” replied the inspector. “The Germans are fiends, not men. Brett and Lumsden were captured while out in a listening patrol, and because they wouldn’t give their captors any information they were tortured. But these brave lads refused to give the information the Germans wanted, and ultimately they succeeded in making their escape during an attack. I’ve listened to many of the experiences of our brave lads, but I don’t think I’ve heard anything worse than the treatment of Brett and this poor fellow who has been murdered.”
“Was it at Armentières this happened?” asked Marsland.
“I think it was,” replied the inspector. “Then you’ve heard the story, too, Mr. Marsland?”