“That wretched Frenchman,” interposed Lady May, “Monsieur Lebrun or——”
“Lebas,” said Vivian Darnley.
“Yes, so it was, Lebas; what a frightful thing that was!” continued Lady May, who was always well up in the day's horrors.
“Very melancholy, and very alarming also. It is a selfish way of looking at it, but one can't help thinking it might just as well have happened to any one else who was there. It brings it home to one a little uncomfortably,” said Mr. Longcluse, with an uneasy smile and a shrug.
“And you actually gave evidence, Mr. Longcluse?” said Lady May.
“Yes, a little,” he answered. “It may lead to something. I hope so. As yet it only indicates a line of inquiry. It will be in the papers, I suppose, in the morning. There will be, I daresay, a pretty full report of that inquest.”
“Then you saw something occur that excited your suspicions?” said Lady May.
Mr. Longcluse recounted all he had to tell, and mentioned having made inquiries as to the present abode of the man, Paul Davies, at the police office.
“And this note, I daresay, is the one they promised to send me, telling the result of their inquiries,” he added.
“Pray open it and see,” said Lady May.