'The stranger will not explain himself,' Sir Rupert said emphatically; 'he is dead.'
Mr. Copping had much power of self-control, but he did seem to start at this news.
'Great Scott!' he exclaimed. 'Then I don't see how you are ever to get at the truth of this story, Sir Rupert.'
'We shall get at the whole truth—every word—never fear,' Mrs. Sarrasin said defiantly.
'We shall send for the local magistrates,' Sir Rupert said, 'of course.' He was anxious, for the moment, to allow no bickerings. 'I am a magistrate myself, but in such a case I should naturally rather leave it to others. I have lost a dear friend by this abominable crime, Mr. Copping.'
'So I hear, Sir Rupert—sorry to hear it, sir—so is my friend Professor Flick.'
'Thank you—thank you both—you can understand then how I feel about the matter, and how little I am likely to leave any stone unturned to bring the murderers of my friend to justice. After the death of my friend himself, I most deeply deplore the death of the man who made his way into Sarrasin's room——'
'Yes, quite right, Sir Rupert; spoils the track, don't it?'
'But when Captain Sarrasin comes to he will tell us something.'
'He will,' Mrs. Sarrasin added earnestly.