"What did you do?"
"What did I do?" roared the Major. "I gave him a crack on the
head with my cane, and I said things to him which couldn't be
repeated in court. I punched him, and likewise hoofed him, but
the hat was completely done in. Damn crowd collected, hearin' me
swearin' and bellowin'. Police and all that; names an' addresses
and all that balderdash. Man lugged away to guard-room and me
turnin' up at the club with no hat. Damn ridiculous spectacle at
my time of life."
"Quite so," said Harley soothingly; "I appreciate your annoyance,
but I am utterly at a loss to understand why you have come here,
and what all this has to do with Mr. De Lana, of the Stock
Exchange."
"He fell out of the window!" shouted the Major.
"Fell out of a window?"
"Out of a window, sir, a second floor window ten yards up a side
street! Pitched on his skull--marvel he wasn't killed outright!"
A faint expression of interest began to creep into Harley's
glance, and:
"I understand you to mean, Major Ragstaff," he said deliberately,
"that while your struggle with the drunken man was in progress
Mr. De Lana fell out of a neighbouring window into the street?"
"Right!" shouted the Major. "Right, sir!"
"Do you know this Mr.
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