been political at all. What did it
matter whether Benham lived or died?"

"I don't see that it did, except to Benham," assented the Captain. "But
what's become of Gaspard?"

"Ah, that they don't know. He's supposed to have taken ship, and they've
cabled to search all ships that left the port that morning."

"He'll find the man in blue--or the local equivalent--on the wharf,"
said the Captain. "Rather a jar that, Sir Robert, when you're in from a
voyage. What are they doing now?"

"Well, the Superintendent said they were going to have a thorough search
through the dead man's lodgings, to see if they could find out anything
about him which would throw light on the motive. The police don't think
much of the political theory of the crime."

"Dashed nonsense, _I_ should think," said the Captain, and he sauntered
off to play billiards.

"That young man," said the Chief Justice, "is really not a fool, though
he does his best to look like one."

"That queer conduct seems to me rather common in young men at home. I
noticed it when I was over."

"Is it meant to imply independent means?"

"I dare say that idea may be dormant under it somewhere. My wife says
the girls like it."

"Then your wife, Perry, is a traitor to her sex to make such
confessions. Besides, they didn't in my time."

"Come, you know, you're a forlorn bachelor. What can you know about it?"

"Bachelors, Perry, are the men who know. Which gathers most knowledge
from a vivisection, the attentive student or the writhing frog?"

"The operator, most of all."

"Doubtless."

"And that's the woman. Therefore, Oakapple, you're wrong and my wife's
right."

"The deuce!" said the Chief Justice. "I wonder how I ever got any
briefs."

In the afternoon, when these idlers had one and all set out for the
Legislative Assembly, some to work, others still to idle, Mr. Kilshaw
felt interest enough in the fate of his late henchman to drop in at the
police office on his way to the same destination. He was well known, and
no one objected to his walking in and making for the door of the
Superintendent's room. An officer to whom he spoke told him that Ned
Evans was in custody, and that it was rumoured that some startling
discoveries had been made at Benham's lodgings.

"Indeed, sir," said the man, "I believe the Superintendent wished to see
you."

"Ah, I dare say," said Kilshaw. "Tell him I'm here."

When he was ushered into the inner room, the Superintendent conf