“Bread an’ cheese, sir? Yessir.”
Miles was soon actively engaged in mechanically feeding, while his mind was busy as to future plans.
Presently he became aware that the men on either side of him were scanning his features and person with peculiar attention.
“Coldish weather,” remarked the red-haired man, looking at him in a friendly way.
“It is,” replied Miles, civilly enough.
“Rather cold for bathin’, ain’t it, sir?” continued the detective carelessly, picking his teeth with a quill.
“How did you know that I’ve been bathing?” demanded Miles in surprise.
“I didn’t know it.”
“How did you guess it then?”
“Vell, it ain’t difficult to guess that a young feller ’as bin ’avin’ a swim w’en you see the ’air of ’is ’ead hall vet, an’ ’is pocket-’ankercher lookin’ as if it ’ad done dooty for a towel, not to mention ’is veskit ’avin’ bin putt on in a ’urry, so as the buttons ain’t got into the right ’oles, you see!”