‘I–I’m inclined to think that I have. But of course, on that photograph, I could hardly swear to it.’
‘I don’t want you to do any swearing. Just give me a general weather report. Just tell me roughly when and where you saw him and I’ll track him down, don’t you be in any doubt about it. Do you know where you met him? I mean, do you remember?’
‘Oh, yes. I remember. I saw him in a compartment—a sleeping-berth compartment—of the London mail when it was running into Scoone early in the morning of the 4th of March. That was the train I came north on.’
‘You mean Bill came here? To Scotland? What for?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Didn’t he tell you? Did you talk to him?’
‘No. I couldn’t.’
‘Why not?’
Grant put out his hand and pushed his companion gently backwards so that he sat down in the chair that was behind him.
‘I couldn’t because he was no longer alive.’