‘Now, Mr. Gordon, can you recollect what, if any, other persons travelled with you in the bus?’ The tea merchant did not immediately reply. ‘I did not specially observe, Mr. Inspector. I am not sure that I can tell you.’ ‘My information, sir, is that three gentlemen travelled by that bus. You were one, and the man I am interested in was another. I am told that he conversed with you, or made at least one remark as you were leaving the bus at the station. Does this bring the circumstance to your mind?’ Mr. Gordon made a gesture of assent. ‘You are correct. I recall the matter now, and the men too. One was small, stout, clean-shaven, and elderly, the other younger, with a black pointed beard and rather foppishly dressed. They were both French, I took it, but the black-bearded man spoke English excellently. He was talkative, but the other hadn’t much to say. Is it the bearded man you mean?’ For answer Burnley held out one of Felix’s photographs. ‘Is that he?’ ‘Yes, that’s the man sure enough. I remember him perfectly now.’ ‘Did he travel with you to London?’ ‘He didn’t travel with me, but he got to London all right, for I saw him twice again, once on the boat and once as I was leaving the station at Charing Cross.’ Here was definite evidence anyway. Burnley congratulated himself and felt glad he had not delayed making this visit. ‘Did he travel alone?’ ‘So far as I know. He certainly started alone from the hotel.’ ‘And he didn’t meet any one _en route_ that you saw?’ ‘When I saw him on the boat he was talking to a lady, but whether they were travelling together or merely chance acquaintances I couldn’t say.’ ‘Was this lady with him in London?’ ‘Not that I saw. He was talking to a man on the platform as I drove out. A tall young fellow, dark and rather good-looking.’ ‘Would you know this young man again if you saw him?’ ‘Yes, I think so. I got a good look at his face.’ ‘I should be obliged if you would describe him more fully.’ ‘He was about five feet eleven or six feet in height, rather thin and athletic looking. He had a pale complexion, was clean-shaven except for a small black moustache, and was rather French looking. He was dressed in some dark clothes, a brown overcoat, I fancy, but of that I’m not sure. I imagined he was meeting your friend, but I had really no definite reason to think so.’ ‘Now, the lady, Mr. Gordon. Can you describe her?’ ‘No, I’m afraid I can’t. She was sitting beside him and I did not see her face.’ ‘Can you tell how she was dressed?’ ‘She wore a reddish brown fur coat, sable, I fancy, though I’m not certain.’ ‘And her hat? You didn’t notice anything special about that.’ ‘No, nothing.’ ‘It hadn’t, for example, a wide brim?’ ‘A wide brim? Not that I noticed. But it may have had.’ ‘Was it windy where they were sitting?’ ‘Every place was windy that day. It was an abominable crossing.’ ‘So that if it had had a wide brim, the lady would have had difficulty in keeping it on?’