One of the doctors, named Sladen, a grey-headed practitioner who had been many years in Cromer, recognized me as I entered.
"Hulloa, Mr. Vidal! This is a very curious case, isn't it? Interests you, of course. All mysteries do, no doubt. But this case is astounding. In making our examination, do you know we've discovered a most amazing fact?" and he pointed to the plank whereon lay the body, covered with one of the brown sails from the life-boat.
"No. What?" I asked eagerly.
"Well—though we all at first, naturally, took the body to be that of old Vernon Gregory, it isn't his at all!"
"Not Gregory's?" I gasped.
"No. He has white hair and a beard, and he is wearing old Gregory's cape and hat, but it certainly is not Gregory's body."
"Who, then, is the dead man?" I gasped.
"His nephew, Edward Craig!"