There was not the slightest difficulty in ascertaining that the person for whom he asked, and with whom he spent some twenty minutes in this very room, was Mr.James B.Coulson of New York." "Seated on this very couch, sir!" Mr.Coulson declared, striking the arm of it with the flat of his hand,--"seated within a few feet of where you yourself are at this present moment." The Inspector nodded.
"Naturally," he continued, "when I became aware of so singular an occurrence, I felt that I must lose no time in coming and having a few more words with you." Mr.Coulson became meditative.
"Upon my word, when you come to think of it," he said, "it is a coincidence, sure! Two men murdered within twenty-four hours, and I seem to have been the last person who knew them, to speak to either.

Tell you what, Mr.Jacks, if this goes on I shall get a bit scared.

I think I shall let the London business alone and go on over to Paris." The Inspector smiled.
"I fancy your nerves," he remarked, "are quite strong enough to bear the strain.

However, I am sure you will not mind telling me exactly why Mr.
Richard Vanderpole, Secretary to the American Embassy here, should have come to see you on Thursday night." "Why, that's easy," Mr.Coulson replied.

"You may have heard of my firm, The Coulson & Bruce Company of Jersey City.