“You don’t seem a very good walker, mister,” the constable observed presently. “I see a cab in the distance. Would you like to take it?”
“Yes. Call it,” I said, for I felt very weak and ill after my terrible night’s adventure.
A few minutes later we were sitting together in the hansom, driving towards the address he had given, namely, College Place Police-Station.
On the way I explained to him the whole of the facts as far as I could recollect them. He listened attentively to my curious narrative until I had concluded, then said—
“Well, sir, it’s certainly a most mysterious affair, and the only fear I have is that everybody will look upon it with disbelief. I know what I should do if I were a gentleman in your place.”
“What would you do?”
“Well, I should keep my knowledge to myself, say nothing about it, and leave the revelation of the crime to chance.”
“I am compelled to make a report of it, because I was present at the tragedy,” I said. “It is my duty, in the interests of justice.”
“Of course, that’s all very well, I quite agree that your duty as a citizen is to make a statement to my inspector, but if I may be permitted to say so, my private opinion is, that to preserve a discreet silence is better than making a fool of one’s self.”
“You’re certainly plain-spoken,” I said smiling.