"Worse than this part of the time. What's the theory, professor?"
"I'm wondering whether there is not some way of clearing up the accident or suicide question."
We found the lad at his home, and Quarles listened attentively to his graphic description of seeing the water playing with the corpse as it lay caught on the rocks.
"Had you gone that way on purpose to see if it had come ashore?" asked Quarles.
"I had and I hadn't. You don't know old Clay, I suppose. He's a fisherman who thinks he knows everything, and he said it was impossible for a body to be washed up on that side of the east cliff."
"And you knew better?"
"It wasn't that. There were several people standing round at the time, and they laughed at old Clay for being so positive. He was wrong, you see."
"Evidently. Do you remember who was there at the time?"
"I didn't notice. I was listening to what Clay was saying. I don't suppose he'll talk so much after this."
Quarles made no comment on what the lad had said as we walked to the end of the street together, and we parted after arranging our visit to the coves on the following afternoon.