“Was he alone when you left him?”
“He was.”
“Did you part on friendly terms?”
The question took me somewhat aback; it was not one which it was easy to answer.
“May I ask why you inquire?”
“My dear Ferguson, it is a question which some one will put to you. You should be prepared with an answer. It seems rather unfortunate that you should have quarrelled with him within an hour of his being done to death.”
“I did not quarrel with him.”
“No? What did you do then? Your unwillingness to reply shows that it was not on the best of terms you parted.”
“I shall be ready to give all necessary information to any one entitled to ask for it.”
“So you are in a position to give information? I see? And you think I am not entitled to ask? Oh! What, to your mind, would constitute a title?—a magistrate’s warrant? You don’t happen to know if any one saw him after you did?”