"About Mr. Hearn, I mean. There is a rumour that he has
been found dead on the beach."
"It's quite true, sir, I am sorry to say; and, what is worse, he has
been murdered."
"My God! you don't say so!"
He turned towards us a face that must ordinarily have been jovial
enough, but was now white and scared and, after a brief pause, he
exclaimed:
"Murdered! Good God! Poor old Hearn! How did it happen, Sergeant? and
when? and is there any clue to the murderer?"
"We can't say for certain when it happened," replied the sergeant, "and
as to the question of clues, I was just coming up to call on you."
"On me!" exclaimed Draper, with a startled glance at the officer. "What
for?"
"Well, we should like to know something about Mr. Hearn--who he was, and
whether he had any enemies, and so forth; anything, in fact, that would
give as a hint where to look for the murderer. And you are the only
person in the place who knew him at all intimately."
Mr Draper's pallid face turned a shade paler, and he glanced about him
with an obviously embarrassed air.
"I'm afraid." he began in a hesitating manner, "I'm afraid I shan't be
able to help you much.
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