The innkeeper answered the bell in person, and was ordered by the chief constable to take a seat and tell everything he knew about the previous night's events, without equivocation or reserve.

He took a chair at the table, his bright bird's glance wandering from one to the other of the faces opposite him as he smoothed with one claw-like hand the thatch of iron-grey hair which hung down over his forehead almost to his eyes.
"Where shall I begin ?" he asked.
"You had better start by telling us how this young man Ronald came to your house yesterday afternoon, and then give us an account of the subsequent events, so far as you know them," said the chief constable.
"I was down near the breakwater yesterday evening, setting some eel-lines in the canal, when he arrived," commenced the innkeeper.

"When I came in, Charles--that's the waiter--told me there was a young gentleman in the bar parlour waiting to see me.

I went into the parlour, and saw the young man sitting near the door.

He looked very tired and weary, and said he wished to stay at the inn for the night." "How was he dressed ?" asked Superintendent Galloway, looking up from his note-book.
"In a grey Norfolk suit, with knickerbockers, and a soft felt hat." "Had you ever seen him before ?" "No, sir.