Had they tried to strangle him or had he carried something of value?
Silk underwear and a clean body; well born; foreign.

After a conscientious hesitance Cutty went through the pockets.

All he found were some crumbs of tobacco and a soggy match box.
They had cleaned him out evidently.

There were no tailors' labels in any of the pockets; but there were signs that these had once existed.

The man on the bed had probably ripped them out himself; did not care to be identified.
A criminal in flight?
Cutty studied the face on the pillow.