“Finger-marks in the blood smears?” queried Larose.
“No, unfortunately, only smears as if the blood had been nearly dry when they were made. Then with these startling discoveries the Southend police were, of course, rung up instantly, and enjoined to get in touch with the excursionists, all of whom had said they were lodging in the town. They were all found but one, and he had not only not been lodging where he said, but, as was ascertained later, the address he had given in London was also a false one, and he had never been heard of there. He was——”
“The verger of the church!” interrupted Larose.
“No, the tailor, an amiable old man and, according to Colonel Maitland, seemingly the most unlikely of them all to have committed any crime. Another thing, among the finger-prints found in var
