"Do you know who murdered that old man in Praed Street?" he demanded.
"That's what I'm after."
"No!" said Levendale, promptly. "I don't even know that he was murdered!"
He, too, stared at his visitor for a moment; then "But I know more than a
little about his being robbed," he added significantly.
Purdie shook his head. He was puzzled and mystified beyond measure.
"This is getting too deep for me!" he said. "You're the biggest mystery of
all, Levendale. Look here!" he went on. "What are you going to do? This
queer disappearance of yours--this being away--coming back without your
beard and dressed like that!--aren't you going to explain? The police--"
"Yes!" said Levendale. "Ten o'clock this morning--the police-station. Be
there--all of you--anybody--anybody who likes--I'm going to tell the
police all I know. Purvis and I, we can't do any more--baffled, you
understand! But now--go away, Purdie, and let me sleep--I'm dead done
for!"
Within ten minutes of leaving them, Purdie was back with Lauriston and
Melky Rubinstein, and motioning them away from Sussex Square.
"That's more extraordinary than the rest!" he said, as they all moved off.
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