Ferguson had proved obdurate and had persisted in taking
the lawyer to Police Headquarters.
Dr. Stone had accompanied the trio, and his testimony, supported by
two chemists, regarding the time required for aconitine poison to
act, had gone far to weaken the detective's case against Rochester.
Rochester, to Kent's unbounded astonishment, had appeared indifferent
to the whole proceedings; and to his partner's urgent inquiries as
to where he had spent the past four days, and why he had disappeared,
he had returned one invariable answer.
"I'll explain in good time, Harry," and it was not until they were
leaving Police Headquarters that his apathy vanished.
"When are you to see Mrs. Brewster?" he asked.
"She will be at our office at four o'clock. Say, Phil" - but
Rochester, shaking off his detaining hand, darted across the street
and sprang into a passing taxi bearing the sign, "For Hire," and
that was the last Kent had seen of his elusive partner.
Kent dropped into his chair and glanced askance at the mail piled
in neat array on his desk; he was not in a frame of mind to handle
routine office business.
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