"Well," said he, after a moment's silence, "I don't just understand your reasons; and the thing is most unusual. But," and he nodded his head approvingly, "I've always noticed that you have reasons behind everything you do, and if this thing is expected to throw any further light on the Hume case, why, it shall be as you say."
"Thank you," said Ashton-Kirk. "Unless I am much mistaken it will close the matter finally as far as your department is concerned, and put the whole thing up to the District Attorney."
"You mean," said the superintendent with interest, "that you've got something new on Spatola--and perhaps on Morris and the girl!"
"I mean," answered Ashton-Kirk, "that I hope to place the murderers of the numismatist Hume in your hands in a few days--whoever they may be."
"That's all we want," said he with a laugh. "Give us the right ones and we'll make no complaint. And now, if you have nothing more to say, I'll say good-night."
They parted with the superintendent in the corridor; then Ashton-Kirk led the way into a room where some police officials and a number of young men were lounging about.
"Oh, how are you?" greeted a stout sergeant, affably. "And how's the work?"
While the investigator was speaking to the sergeant, one of the alert-looking young men approached.
"Pardon," said he. "But is there anything you'd like to say to the _Star?_"
"You are working on the Hume case, are you not?" asked the reporter with professional insistence.
"Oh, I have had a little interest in it as an outsider, that is all," returned the other. "However," as he was passing through with Pendleton, "I can give you a piece of official police news on the case, which I just got from the superintendent. After to-night the guard will be removed from Hume's place. Weagle thinks the regular policeman on the beat is all that is needed from now on."
As they left the building by the main door, Pendleton said:
"A little while ago, I rashly promised to ask no more questions. If you'll release me from that, I'll unburden myself of one or two which will otherwise keep me awake to-night."
"Go ahead," said Ashton-Kirk with a smile.
"Why," asked Pendleton, "do you want the police called off at Hume's? and why should we place ourselves on watch instead?"