“Oui, we find heem. First geet home, geet rest, then go. But,” he added, reaching his hand around to his hip pocket, “I forgeet. Here what we came for,” and he held out a small square bottle.
Bob seized the bottle with a cry of joy and saw that it was about a third filled with a fine white powder.
“Where did you find it?” he asked eagerly.
“Heem gave it to me.”
“You mean Ben?”
“Oui.”
“But how in the name of—” Bob began and then stopped. “All right, old man, I won’t ask any questions,” he said, as he put the bottle in his pocket and started off again.
He had noticed that there was no label on the bottle and was somewhat disappointed. Still he realized that, if the bottle contained arsenic, the fact that it had been found in Donahue’s possession would be an important piece of evidence against him.
It was nearly three o’clock when they reached the office and, in spite of Bob’s assertion that he was all right and wanted to start at once on the search for Jack, the Frenchman insisted that he get a few hours’ sleep. Seeing that he was determined, Bob gave up the argument, knowing in his heart that the Frenchman was right.
“Eet ver’ dark now. Hard to follow trail. Mak’ bon time when light come,” was the argument which caused Bob to yield.