‘Did you see her afterwards?’

The direct question came suddenly, and the strained look in Feist’s face became more intense.  Logotheti fancied he understood very well what was passing in the young man’s mind; he intended to swear in court that he had seen Van Torp drag the girl to the place where her body was afterwards found, and if he now denied this, the Greek, who was probably Van Torp’s friend, might appear as a witness and narrate the present conversation; and though this would not necessarily invalidate the evidence, it might weaken it in the opinion of the jury.  Feist had of course suspected that Logotheti had some object in forcing him to undergo a cure, and this suspicion had been confirmed by the opium cigarettes, which he would have refused after the first time if he had possessed the strength of mind to do so.

While Logotheti watched him, three small drops of perspiration appeared high up on his forehead, just where the parting of his thin light hair began; for he felt that he must make up his mind what to say, and several seconds had already elapsed since the question.

‘As a matter of fact,’ he said at last, with an evident effort, ’I did catch sight of Miss Bamberger later.’

He had been aware of the moisture on his forehead, and had hoped that Logotheti would not notice it, but the drops now gathered and rolled down, so that he was obliged to take out his handkerchief.

‘It’s getting quite hot,’ he said, by way of explanation.

‘Yes,’ answered Logotheti, humouring him, ’the room is warm.  You must have been one of the last people who saw Miss Bamberger alive,’ he added.  ‘Was she trying to get out?’

‘I suppose so.’

Logotheti pretended to laugh a little.

‘You must have been quite sure when you saw her,’ he said.

Feist was in a very overwrought condition by this time, and Logotheti reflected that if his nerve did not improve he would make a bad impression on a jury.

‘Now I’ll tell you the truth,’ he said rather desperately.

‘By all means!’ And Logotheti prepared to hear and remember accurately the falsehood which would probably follow immediately on such a statement.

But he was disappointed.

‘The truth is,’ said Feist, ’I don’t care much to talk about this affair at present.  I can’t explain now, but you’ll understand one of these days, and you’ll say I was right.’

‘Oh, I see!’

Logotheti smiled and held out his case, for Feist had finished the first cigarette.  He refused another, however, to the other’s surprise.

‘Thanks,’ he said, ’but I guess I won’t smoke any more of those.  I believe they get on to my nerves.’

‘Do you really not wish me to bring you any more of them?’ asked Logotheti, affecting a sort of surprised concern.  ’Do you think they hurt you?’

’I do.  That’s exactly what I mean.  I’m much obliged, all the same, but I’m going to give them up, just like that.’