The tall man I guessed at once to be the Principal, returning from a
survey of the damage done: and I waited while he approached. He wore
an angry frown, and his eyes interrogated us pretty sharply.
"Sir Elkin Travers?" I asked.
"At your service, sir, if you are sent to help in this business?"
Sir Elkin's eyes passed on this question to the Police Sergeant and
reverted to me. "From Whitehall?" he asked.
"No, sir," I answered. "My name is Otway--Sir Roderick Otway; and
our only excuse for being here is that two of us are close friends of
Professor Foe. Indeed, sir, for myself, let me say that I have for
many years been his closest friend, and I am anxious about him."
"You have need to be, I fear," said Sir Elkin, speaking slowly.
"I was going back to him at this moment. Will you come with
me. . . . This, by the way, is Mr. Michelmore, our College Bursar."
"With your leave, gentleman," put in the Sergeant, "I'll be going
back now. They've collared most of the ringleaders; but by the sound
of it they're beating the shrubberies for the stray birds .
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