of the
affair. And the other night, being somewhat under the influence of
drink, and talking the matter over with his mates at a tavern, he let
out some dark hints that he could tell something if he liked. Of course,
he was pressed to tell them--and wouldn't. Then--so my informant tells
me--he was dared to tell, and became surlily silent. That, of course,
spread, and got to my ears. I've seen Collishaw."

"Well?" asked Bryce.

"I believe the man does know something," answered Mitchington. "That's
the impression I carried away, anyhow. But--he won't speak. I charged
him straight out with knowing something--but it was no good. I told him
of what I'd heard. All he would say was that whatever he might have said
when he'd got a glass of beer or so too much, he wasn't going to say
anything now neither for me nor for anybody!"

"Just so!" remarked Bryce. "But--he'll be getting a glass too much
again, some day, and then--then, perhaps he'll add to what he said
before. And--you'll be sure to hear of it."

"I'm not certain of that," answered Mitchington. "I made some inquiry
and I find that Collishaw is usually a very sober and retiring sort of
chap--he'd been lured on to drink when he let out what he did. Besides,
whether I'm right or wrong, I got the idea into my head that he'd
already been--squared!"

"Squared!" exclaimed Bryce. "Why, then, if that affair was really
murder, he'd be liable to being charged as an accessory after the fact!"

"I warned him of that," replied Mitchington. "Yes, I warned him
solemnly."

"With no effect?" asked Bryce.

"He's a surly sort of man," said Mitchington. "The sort that takes
refuge in silence. He made no answer beyond a growl."

"You really think he knows something?" suggested Bryce. "Well--if there
is anything, it'll come out--in time."

"Oh, it'll come out!" assented Mitchington. "I'm by no means satisfied
with that verdict of the coroner's inquiry. I believe there was foul
play--of some sort. I'm still following things up--quietly. And--I'll
tell you something--between ourselves--I've made an important discovery.
It's this. On the evening of Braden's arrival at the Mitre he was out,
somewhere, for a whole two hours--by himself."

"I thought we learned from Mrs. Partingley that he and the other man,
Dellingham, spent the evening together?" said Bryce.

"So we did--but that was not quite so," replied Mitchington. "Braden
went out of the Mitre just before nine o'clock and he d