At last, when Durrant began to describe Bernard Boyne's strange doings in Bridge Place, the inspector interrupted him.
"The house has been burned, as I dare say you know."
"Yes," replied Gerald vehemently, "purposely burned for two reasons. First, to destroy evidence of whatever was contained in that upstairs room, together with its occupant——"
"Then you think someone lived up there—eh?"
"I feel absolutely sure of it."
"You only believe it," said the officer. And after a pause he asked: "And what was the second motive?"
"To get rid of Miss Ramsay—for that night, after visiting you, she went back and slept there in order to keep her aunt company."
The detective smiled. Then, after a pause, he said:
"Mr. Boyne is very well-known and popular in Hammersmith, you know. Everyone has a good word for him. He is honest, hard-working, and often shows great kindness to poor people whose insurance policies would lapse if he did not help them over the stile. No, Mr. Durrant; Bernard Boyne is certainly not the daring and relentless criminal you are trying to make him out. Indeed, I hear that, by the fire at his house, he's lost nearly all he possessed. He wasn't insured."
"Why is it that by day he collects insurance premiums here, and yet at night puts on an evening suit and dines at the most expensive restaurants in the West End?" demanded Gerald, furious that his story was being dismissed by the police.