“It was to me, sir, that Mr. Wendell gave his match box.”
All, Ray included, looked at me in surprise.
“To you!” exclaimed Dr. Drayton.
“Yes, sir,” I answered, “to me, but only to pass it back. Some one of those behind me asked for the box, and I got it from Mr. Wendell. I only retained it for a moment, and I do not know to whom I gave it, for the rest were masked.”
Ray was looking at me with an expression of relief on his face. He was beginning to see that he had misunderstood the position of affairs.
Dr. Drayton was plainly disappointed. He had at first thought that his inquiries had unearthed the chief offender, but now he found himself as far astray as at the beginning.
Scanning us both sharply he asked:
“Had either of you gentlemen any idea of the purpose for which that match box was wanted?”
“No, sir,” we answered together.