"Because I was on the opposite side of the street, in deep shadow," replied Burchill. "Besides that, the instant I caught sight of him I quietly slipped back into a doorway. I remained there while he turned and hurried up the street, for I was sure he had seen somebody coming, and I wanted to find out who it was. And in another minute Barthorpe Herapath came along, walking quickly. Then I understood--X. had seen him in the distance, and didn't want to meet him." "Just so, just so," murmured Davidge. "To be sure." "Barthorpe Herapath turned into the carriageway and went into the office," continued Burchill. "Now, as I've already said, I knew Jacob Herapath's methods; I hadn't served him for nothing. He was the sort of man who makes no distinction between day and night--it was quite a common thing for him to fix up business appointments with people at midnight. I've been present at such appointments many a time. So, I dare say, has Mr. Selwood; any one who acted as secretary to Jacob Herapath knows well that he'd think nothing of transacting business at three o'clock in the morning. So I knew, of course, that Barthorpe had gone there to keep some such appointment. I also knew that it would probably last some time. Now I wanted to see Jacob Herapath alone. And as there didn't seem to be any chance of it just then, I went home to my flat in Maida Vale." "Walked in?" asked Davidge. "If you're particular as to the means, I took a taxi-cab at the Gardens end of the High Street," replied Burchill, half-contemptuously. He turned his attention to Selwood and the Professor again. "Now, I'm going to tell you the plain truth about what happened afterwards," he continued. "This part of the story is for the particular benefit of you two gentlemen, though it has its proper connection with all the rest of the narrative. I sat up rather late when I got home that night, and I lay in bed next day until afternoon--in fact, I'd only just risen when Barthorpe Herapath called on me at three o'clock. Now, as I don't have papers delivered, but go out to buy what I want, it's the fact that I never heard of Jacob Herapath's murder until Barthorpe told me of it, then! That's the truth. And I'll at once anticipate the question that you'll naturally want to ask. Why didn't I at once tell Barthorpe of what I'd seen the night before?--of the presence of the man whom we're calling Mr. X.?" "Just so!" murmured Davidge. "Ah, yes, why not?" "I'll tell you," continued Burchill. "Because Barthorpe immediately sprang upon me the matter of the will. And I just as immediately recognized--I think I may count myself as a quick thinker--that the really important matter just then was not the murder of Jacob Herapath, but the ultimate disposal of Jacob Herapath's immense wealth." "Clever!" sighed Davidge. "Uncommonly clever!"