The officer ceased to speak, and then the party whom he had sent round the house and grounds returned, and gained the main body orderly enough, and the sergeant went forward to make his report to his superior officer.
After the usual salutation, he waited for the inquiry to be put to him as to what he had seen.
"Well, Scott, what have you done?"
"I went round the premises, sir, according to your instructions, but saw no one either in the vicinity of the house, or in the grounds around it."
"No strangers, eh?"
"No, sir, none."
"You saw nothing at all likely to lead to any knowledge as to who it was that has caused this catastrophe?"
"No, sir."
"Have you learnt anything among the people who are the perpetrators of this fire?"