"If you wish me to," replied Leighbourne with frowning reluctance.
"I do wish it," said the detective decisively. "You must come with me to identify the body; and it is possible that you may be required to give your evidence at the inquest."
"Evidence--evidence!" cried the young man, passing his tongue over his dry lips. "What evidence can I give? I--I--I do not want to attend the inquest."
Leighbourne looked defiantly at the detective, and for a moment or so the pair eyed one another in silence, then the weaker of the two yielded. "If I must I must," said Leighbourne, sullenly. "I shall come back;" and he passed out, closing the door behind him with such unnecessary violence that it was plain he had departed in a bad temper.
While this dialogue was proceeding Darrel had kept his eye on the face of Vass. Although he had heard all that was said--and the words "body" and "inquest" must have piqued his curiosity--his expression was one of absolute unconcern. Only once did he betray any emotion, and that was when Leighbourne left him alone with the two strangers; but when Torry turned towards him, his face was again calm and composed. Frank wondered what could be the meaning of this well-acted comedy.
"Mr. Vass," said Torry, intent upon trying the effect of a sudden surprise. "I have to inform you that your master has been murdered."
Mr. Vass stepped back and threw up his hands. "Grent murdered!" he cried in a voice rendered shrill by excitement. "Great Heavens! When? Where?"
"In Mortality-lane near the Strand, on Sunday morning between twelve and one o'clock. He was stabbed to the heart."
The secretary received this news with unfeigned horror, and evidently having some womanish vein in his nature, burst into a fit of hysterical weeping.
In spite of what he had beheld, Darrel felt his suspicions melt away before this undeniable sorrow. In his own mind he decided that whatever Vass might know, the intelligence of his master's death was new to him, and had taken him completely by surprise.
Torry said nothing, but smiled approvingly when he beheld the outbreak of Vass. Perhaps the secretary perceived the composure with which his emotion was received by the strangers, and regained his nerve out of pride; but whatever was the cause, he shortly became calm, and expressed himself willing to answer any questions which might be put to him. With a sign to Darrel not to speak, Torry promptly availed himself of the offer.