"Yes," I told him, "they do; they think perhaps they have the right man."
"It is clever work if they have really found him so soon," he answered, "for it must have been a blind trail to pick up."
"Too clever by much," said Littell; "I don't believe it."
"Nor I," I joined in, but more to myself than the others.
Davis ventured no opinion. He only looked from one to another of us as we spoke. I doubt if the subject would have interested him at all except for our connection with it. After a while, in a pause in our talk he suggested something "to eat and drink and billiards or anything to cheer us up," as he said.
I don't think any of us were averse to a digression from the subject which hung over us like a pall and we took his advice and to all appearance, at least, the others put the subject away from them for the remainder of the night. It was never out of my thoughts, however; till the man who killed White was found and brought to justice I knew I could not rest, and I fancy Littell and Van Bult had some idea of what was in my mind, for they looked at me curiously now and then during the evening, and at parting Littell said:
"Cheer up, Dick, the world is full of the troubles of other people, and you will find your own enough to worry over."
Van Bult only told me to go to bed and sleep as he bade me good-night and went off with Davis, but I knew he also thought I was dwelling too much on the subject. I have no doubt they were right, but I could not help it and went to my room to pass a sleepless night.