I could see no trace of cab or omnibus.

I retraced my steps and tried to find my way back to the station, only to find myself in worse and more deserted neighbourhoods.

I became hopelessly lost and fogged.

I don't wonder that two and a half hours elapsed while I thus wandered on in the dark and deserted streets; my sole astonishment is that I ever found the station at all that night, or rather close to it a policeman, who showed me the way.' "'But how do you account for Kershaw knowing all your movements ?' still persisted his Honour, 'and his knowing the exact date of your arrival in England?
How do you account for these two letters, in fact ?' "'I cannot account for it or them, your Honour,' replied the prisoner quietly.

'I have proved to you, have I not, that I never wrote those letters, and that the man--er--Kershaw is his name ?--was not murdered by me ?' "'Can you tell me of anyone here or abroad who might have heard of your movements, and of the date of your arrival ?' "'My late employes at Vladivostok, of course, knew of my departure, but none of them could have written these letters, since none of them know a word of English.' "'Then you can throw no light upon these mysterious letters?
You cannot help the police in any way towards the clearing up of this strange affair ?' "'The affair is as mysterious to me as to your Honour, and to the police of this country.' "Francis Smethurst was discharged, of course; there was no semblance of evidence against him sufficient to commit him for trial.