"I will go and break the news to Mr. Clement--that's the doctor--if you like, and then he can tell the others."
"Do so, please; and could you not call on Mr. Brancker at the same time?"
"He lives in an opposite direction. One of your men might fetch him in ten minutes. By-the-bye, I shouldn't be a bit surprised if Mr. B. was the last person who saw the Governor alive."
"Ah; in that case the sooner we have him here the better. But what reason have you for saying so?"
"Why, I met him about half-past ten last night on his way to the Bank. He said that he was coming to fetch his umbrella, but he may have seen Mr. H. at the same time."
"Um! Well, we shall hear what he has to say when he arrives."
"No doubt Sweet can tell you more of the matter than I can."
In speaking thus of Mr. Brancker, Ephraim had no ulterior motive, nor did it strike him at the time that his words might be the means of placing John in a very awkward position.
Two more constables had arrived by now. Mr. Mace planted one of them at the door of the strong room.
"Don't let anyone enter here without my permission," he said. The other man he sent in search of Mr. Brancker, while Mr. Judd left the Bank at the same time to break the news to Clement Hazeldine. At the doctor's wish Mrs. Sweet and Peggy had retired. They would be required later on, but at present they were only in the way.