Suddenly she sank back into her chair, looked dazedly about her, and passed her hand over her eyes. After a moment, she spoke again in a dull, level voice. “The man rushed down the Steps after committing his fell deed,” she said. “I saw him leap into a waiting vehicle and drive away. The villains! The cowards! Nihilists! Radicals!” Once more the excitement had seized her and she broke into shrill cries, only half intelligible. Poole saw that it was useless to expect any lucid account from her. Waiting only for a quiet moment in which to take his leave, he thanked poor little Miss Griselda for her valuable help, and left her to finish her tea in peace. “Please tell the Secretary of State that I am at his service at any time,” said Miss Peake as she ushered him out of the door. CHAPTER XIV Sir Garth’s Papers Although he had had a hard day’s work and it was nearly six o’clock, Poole felt that he had made so little progress that he could not leave things as they were. Consequently, he returned to the Yard, and taking his note-book and a sheet of foolscap, set himself to analyse the evidence that he had obtained during the day. As was only to be expected, there were discrepancies in the accounts of the incident which the various eye-witnesses had given him. In the first place, the “time” was very vague—varying from “some time after six” by Press, to “not before six-thirty” by Wagglebow. The evidence of Tarker and Miss Moon, however, made it fairly certain that the time was well after 6.15. Referring to his note-book Poole discovered that he had not got a definite statement by Mr. Hessel on the subject—he made a note to get it at the first opportunity. Then, as to the appearance of Sir Garth Fratten’s assailant, there was much difference of opinion. Tarker had described him as “getting on for middle-age,” while Wagglebow thought him “undoubtedly young”; but then Tarker was himself a young man and Wagglebow an old, which would probably account for the difference, each judging from his own standpoint. The observant Press was probably near the mark in putting him at thirty-five. The consensus of opinion pointed to a bowler hat, but the overcoat varied from “light” (Lossett), through “medium grey” (Press), to “not quite black” (Wagglebow). All seemed agreed on the subject of a moustache, but whereas Press and Wagglebow thought him of “medium” or “ordinary” size, Lossett had described him as “decidedly tall.”