"No, I don't. But such discovery will hardly account for his murder here. If you find out from your inquiries at Ironfields that the dead man had an enemy, you will have to prove how that enemy came down here and secretly poisoned him. Judging from all the evidence, there is no trace of poison left behind, no one has been staying in this inn except myself, so I really don't see how you are going to bring the crime home to any particular person."
Having finished this speech, Roger arose to his feet with a yawn, and knocked the ashes out of his pipe against the mantelpiece.
"Where are you going?" asked Fanks, stopping in his walk.
"To bed, of course. I've had a long day."
"You continue your walking tour to-morrow?"
"That remains to be proved," retorted Fanks, grimly.
"I'm certain of it, so your wisest plan is to accept the inevitable and give this case up," replied Axton, holding out his hand. "Good night."
"Good night, old boy," said Octavius, cordially. "I'm very pleased to meet you again. By the way, don't let us lose sight of one another. My address is Scotland Yard--my Fanks address, of course. And yours?"
Out came Mr. Fanks' secretive little note-book, in which, he wrote down the address with a gay laugh.
"Ha! ha! Like all literary men, you start with the law and leave it for the profits."
"Eh, who knows? Every scribbler carries the Laureate-ship in his brain. By the way, if I see Miss Varlins at Ironfields, shall I give her any message?"
"No; she won't have anything to do with me," replied Roger, dismally. "I've no doubt I'll get married some day, but it won't be to Judith Varlins."
"Ardent lover!" said Fanks, laughing. "Well, good night, and pleasant dreams."
"With that body upstairs. Ugh!" cried Roger Axton, and vanished with a shudder.
Mr. Fanks stood beside the dying fire, leaning his two elbows on the mantelpiece, and thinking deeply.
"He's very much altered," he thought, drearily. "Not the bright boy of ten years ago. How trouble does change a man, and love also! I'll make a point of seeing Miss Varlins when I go down to Ironfields. Rather a dismal love story, but what the devil did he tell me two lies for?"
He left the room, took his candle from Miss Chickles, and returned to bed. As he closed the door of his room, his thoughts reverted to Roger Axton once more.