“It was a peculiar experience,” he ejaculated, looking at the detective, “very peculiar—very peculiar——”

Mr. Wright had a rapid way of speaking when he was excited, and he had a habit of repeating certain words and phrases to emphasize what he said.

“It was deucedly peculiar,” he repeated, after a slight pause.

Carter could not help smiling as he said:

“Mr. Wright, you forget that I know nothing about it.”

“That’s so—confound it! I am so excited I can hardly collect my thoughts. But it was a deucedly peculiar experience, all the same,” he replied.

“Tell me all about it.”

“Tell you all about it? So I will—yes—yes. Peculiar—it was very peculiar——”

“No doubt. Try and collect your thoughts.”

“I will.”