"Wonder where he lives?" muttered the detective, in perplexity; "let me see, what's the time," glancing at his watch--"nearly five; he's a great friend of Mr. Lazarus, and I know Lazarus is sub-editor of _The Penny Whistle_; I'll go along and ask him--he's sure to be in just now." He walked rapidly along to the newspaper office, and, being admitted to Ezra's room, found that young man just putting on his coat preparatory to going away, his labours for the day now being concluded. "Well, Mr. Naball," asked Ezra, in his soft voice, "what can I do for you--anything about this unfortunate affair?" "Yes," said Naball bluntly; "I want to see Mr. Stewart." "Oh, you do!" broke in a new voice, and Stewart stepped out of an adjoining room, where he had been waiting for his friend; "what is the matter?" "Nothing much," observed Naball, in a frank voice; "but as this case has been put into my hands, I want to ask you a few questions.' "Am I in the way?" asked Lazarus, taking up his hat. "By no means," replied Naball politely; "in fact, you may be of assistance." "Well, fire away," said Keith, coolly lighting a cigarette. "I'm ready to answer anything." Naball glanced keenly at both the young men before he began to talk, and noted their appearance. Keith had a rather haggard look, as though he had been leading a dissipated life; while Ezra's face looked careworn and pale. "Cut up over his father's death, I guess," said Naball to himself; "poor chap!--but as for the other, it looks like late hours and drink. I must find out all about your private life, Mr. Stewart." "I'm waiting," said Keith impatiently; "I wish you wouldn't keep me very long; I've got to meet a train from the country to-night." Naball closed both doors of the room, and, resuming his seat, looked steadily at Keith, who, seated astride a chair, leaned his elbows on the back, and smoked nonchalantly. "Are you aware," asked Naball deliberately, "if the late Mr. Lazarus had any enemies?" "I can answer that question best," said Ezra quickly, before Keith could speak. "Yes, he had plenty; my father, as you know, was a moneylender as well as a pawnbroker, and, as he took advantage of his possession of money to extort high interest, I know it made a lot of people feel bitter against him." "Considering that you are his son, sir," said Naball, in a tone of rebuke, "you do not speak very well of the dead." "I have not much cause to," rejoined Ezra bitterly; "he was father to me in name only. But you need not make any comments--my duty to my father's memory is between myself and my conscience. I have answered your question--he had many enemies." "So I believe also," said Keith slowly; "but I don't think any one was so hostile as to desire his death." "As you don't think so," observed Naball sharply, "I myself believe that the murder was committed for the sake of robbery." "That's easily seen," said Ezra calmly, "from the fact of the safe being open and the money gone."