Page:The Millbank Case - 1905 - Eldridge.djvu/71

 "Well, you are short and to the point. Suppose I was?"

"What were you there for?"

"None of your business."

Trafford chuckled. He was getting on. It was just the answer he expected.

"Now let's stick right to the point, as you wanted me to. If I have to whip round to get to it again, you mustn't blame me."

"Come, Mr. Trafford; you can't deal with every one the same way. If you want to find out anything from me, you mustn't go at it as if I was a country bumpkin whom your very name would scare."

"Bless you, I don't," said Trafford. "Now if you were a country bumpkin, as you are pleased to put it, I'd lead up to the matter gently and so have it all out of you before you knew what I was at. Not being a country bumpkin, I come at you fair and square to save your time and mine too. What were you doing in Millbank on the evening of the tenth? You weren't at any of the hotels. You weren't seen by any of the men who were likely to see you."