"You wish--" Rathbury had been fumbling in his pocket for the scrap of grey paper, which he had carefully bestowed in a much-worn memorandum-book.

"I wished to ask a question, Mr.Breton," he said.

"This morning, about a quarter to three, a man--elderly man--was found dead in Middle Temple Lane, and there seems little doubt that he was murdered.

Mr.Spargo here--he was present when the body was found." "Soon after," corrected Spargo.

"A few minutes after." "When this body was examined at the mortuary," continued Rathbury, in his matter-of-fact, business-like tones, "nothing was found that could lead to identification.