It was not known that I could throw any light upon the affair at all.

All that passed between Ballantyne and myself passed when we were alone; and Ballantyne was now dead." "Yes, but you had dined with the Ballantynes on that night.

Surely it's strange that since you were in Bombay Mrs.Ballantyne's advisers did not seek you out." "Yes, yes," added Mr.Hazlewood, "very strange indeed, Mr.
Thresk--since you were in Bombay"; and he looked up at the ceiling and joined the tips of his fingers, his whole attitude a confident question: "Answer that if you can." Thresk turned patiently round.
"Hasn't it occurred to you, Mr.Hazlewood, that it is still more strange that the prosecution did not at once approach me ?" "Yes," said Pettifer suddenly.

"That question too has troubled me"; and Thresk turned back again.
"You see," he explained, "I was not known to be in Bombay at all.

On the contrary I was supposed to be somewhere in the Red Sea or the Mediterranean on my way back to England." Mr.Pettifer looked up in surprise.