"Yes; but, forgive me, why these questions?"
"Ah! I supposed you would have heard. Mr. Parrish is dead."
"Indeed! I am very sorry to hear it."
"We are looking into his affairs," Quarles went on. "Is there any money owing to you?"
"No."
"The fact is, Mr. Parrish was murdered."
"Murdered!" exclaimed Baines, starting from his chair. "Do you mean for some treasured volume he possessed? Do you mean by some bibliomaniac?"
"You think he may have had such a treasure, then?"
"I know he had many rare and valuable books," Baines answered.
"You don't happen to know a bibliomaniac who might commit murder?" said Quarles.