"Yes, so I think, and so do others; but the evidence against him is frightfully strong. That woman, Mrs. Haag, will make a most criminating statement of what occurred last night."
"I don't know the particulars,--tell me what they are?"
"You ought to be able to throw considerable light upon it," said Merrivale, unheeding my question. "You were with poor old Thorneley last night, it seems. Just tell me all that passed. In fact, I ought to know every thing. I hear too that you are to be summoned as witness against Atherton. How is that?"
I then related to him how I had gone to Wimpole street at Mr. Thorneley's request about a matter of business; the hour I had left him; my meeting with Hugh; his wish to come home with me, and my refusal; the meeting also with the woman, and the conclusions which I had drawn from it.
"What was the nature of the business with Mr. Thorneley?"
I replied that my word of honor was passed to keep it secret.
"Had it any bearing upon the unhappy catastrophe, either directly or indirectly?"
"No; none that I could see."
"Would it affect Atherton or his prospects?"