I knew his case was hopeless, and indeed I believe," said Mr.Milburgh soberly, "I believe he was dead even before the bandaging was completed.
"Whilst I was doing something I found it was possible to forget the terrible position in which I would find myself if somebody came into the room.

The moment I saw the case was hopeless, and had a second to think, I was seized with a blind panic.

I snatched my overcoat from the peg and ran out of the room; through the back way into the mews, and reached Camden Town that night, a mental and physical wreck." "Did you leave the lights burning ?" asked Tarling.
Mr.Milburgh thought for a moment.
"Yes," he said, "I left the lights burning." "And you left the body in the flat ?" "That I swear," replied Milburgh.
"And the revolver--when you got home was it in your pocket ?" Mr.Milburgh shook his head.
"Why did you not notify the police ?" "Because I was afraid," admitted Mr.Milburgh.

"I was scared to death.

It is a terrible confession to make, but I am a physical coward." "There was nobody in the room ?" persisted Tarling.
"Nobody so far as I could see.