"You have heard of Mr. Thorneley being found dead, sir?"
"Yes--my clerk has just told me. What did he die of?"
"He was poisoned, Mr. Kavanagh."
I felt the man's eyes were fixed on me as if he could read in my soul and see the fearful dread therein. I could have hurled him from the window.
"Who is suspected?" I asked as calmly as my parched tongue would let me speak.
The man did not answer my question.
"You were with him last evening, sir, were you not?"
"Good heavens!" I exclaimed, completely thrown off my guard; "they surely don't suspect me!"
"Not that I'm aware of, sir; but your evidence is necessary, since you were one of the last persons who saw him alive."