"Yes," nodded the Commissioner, "and we are sure now of the identity of the man. His name was William Thrush, and he should have sailed from here by the Nestor on October 29th." He drew in his features as if he were expecting a blow. "He also had been staying at the Rialto Hotel."
"And was last seen," added Larose briskly, "two days before the boat was due to sail, on the morning of October 29th, when he had been heard complaining at the hotel that he had been feeling very unwell."
"Oh!" said the Commissioner with some irritation. "Well, what of that? Had he been visiting Dr. Van Steyne too?"
The detective shook his head slowly.
"Shall we ever know? No entry of that name to be found anywhere, but--"--Larose spoke almost in a whisper again--"the nurse's hall book at the consulting rooms
