want to pretend to be dead?' Albert defended his
position.

Simon, entirely forgetful of that dignity which usually he was at such
pains to preserve, sprang on to the piano alongside Albert.

'I'll tell you another thing,' said he. 'When I came in with the
governor's tea this morning he was just dozing and half-dreaming
like--he'd had a very bad night--and I heard him say, "So they think you
are at the bottom of the Channel, Louis? I wish you were!" What do you
think of that, my son?'

'Then the governor must know Ravengar didn't commit suicide in the
Channel? The governor never said a word to me!'

'You don't imagine the governor tells you everything, do you?' said
Simon cruelly.

'Have you shown him the photo?' Albert asked.

'No,' said Simon, with a certain bluntness.

'Why not?'

'Well, for one thing, I've had no chance, and for another I wanted to
find out something more first. I'd just like the governor to see that
I'm not an absolute idiot.... Though I should have thought he might have
found that out before now.'

'He doesn't think you're an absolute idiot,' said Albert.

'He acts as if he did,' said Simon. The Paris trip still rankled.

A pause followed.

'Another thing,' Albert recommenced. 'Even supposing Ravengar's alive,
it's not very likely he'd venture here, of all places.'

'Why not?' Simon argued. 'Scarcely anybody knows Ravengar by sight. He's
famous for keeping himself to himself. He's one of the least known
celebrities in London. He'd be safe from recognition almost anywhere.
Moreover, supposing he wanted to buy something peculiar?'

'He might,' Albert admitted. 'But don't forget this is all theory. I
suppose you've been making your own inquiries in the Medical
Department?'

'Yes,' said Simon rather apologetically. 'But I couldn't find anyone
among the staff who remembers serving such a man, or even seeing him.
He may have had an accomplice, you know, on the staff. What makes it
more awkward is that there were two photographs taken, one about eleven,
and another about half-past, and the photographer got the plates mixed
up, and doesn't know whether this one is the first or the second. You
see, the clock doesn't show in the picture; otherwise, we might have
pieced things together.'

'Pity!' Albert murmured.

'However,' said Simon, with an obvious intention to be dramatic, 'I
thought of Lecoq, and I hit on something. You see the lady just leaving
the cash-desk with her receipt? Ca