“Perhaps.”
“Then, from what you tell me, he seems to have made up his mind to go and see Sir James suddenly. That doesn’t fit in.”
“How did he get into the house and out again the second time?”
“It’s no good asking questions. He may have had accomplices for all we know.”
“Ah, now you are opening up a new question altogether. We have rather assumed that there was only one man in it, but let’s keep to Lewis.”
“All right, then. He had access to official paper, and knew my signature well. He had letters of mine, and could have copied it. Then he knew my habits, and where I should be found, and he knew where to find you. He might even have called up from the Yard itself.”
“That’s one to you, certainly,” said Collins. “I can see Lewis having a thin time if you catch him. What do you know about him, anyway?”
“Nothing much. He has been here for three years. He came from a merchant’s office, and applied for a clerkship. He was well recommended, and was always keen on his work, and very reliable. So I took him on as my right-hand man and confidential clerk. He was known there as my ‘familiar.’ ”
“That’s all straightforward. Have you taken any action?”
“I have sent a full description of him to the papers, and posted him as ‘wanted.’ ”
“Oh, my God,” said Collins, jumping up, “when will you people learn the folly of this? You know what will happen? First, you put him at once on his guard. Then we shall have letters from Tokyo and Leningrad, besides Brighton and Battersea, from people who have seen him and talked to him. You know that always happens, and if, by any chance, he is guilty, we shall have his body washed ashore by the Thames in about a month’s time. Or,” he added grimly, “possibly if he is innocent.”
“Well, that’s the official procedure. I cannot go behind that, especially in a case like this.”
Collins laughed, and sat down.
“It may not be a bad thing,” he said. “It may put the murderer into a false position of security.”
“You don’t think much of this, then?”
“I reserve judgment, but if you are right he was one of the cleverest scoundrels of this generation.”
Sinclair started. The words were the same as in the letter he had received, and which was burning in his pocket.
“But you, what did you find in Devonshire?”
“A charming house and a charming girl. It was a rotten job to have to break the news to her.”
“Then why on earth did you go?”
“Oh, I learnt some interesting facts about the family.”
“It’s a dark business altogether, and the worst is that we shall have no peace till it is solved. I have had our staff working all day tracing the movements of well-known criminals who are at large, and any who may have had a grievance against the Home Secretary. Also of any lunatics who are at large, and, as you know, there are many of them.”
They smoked in silence for a while.
“Have you any clue at all? Don’t tell me if you would rather not, but I fancied you were holding something back?” said Sinclair.
“You have asked me, and I will tell you. I have. The only reason I have not confided in you is, not from lack of confidence, but because I was afraid of just such action as you have taken in the case of Lewis. You see, you are bound to do certain things by your position. If this develops I will tell you.”
“Thanks,” said the other, his face clearing.
“Did you notice anything curious in Mrs. Simmons’ statement?” said Collins, after a few minutes’ silence.
“In what particular?”
“I commend it to your notice. She said that when the unknown visitor had been with Sir James for some time, she heard a ring from the library. When she went upstairs, Sir James was showing the visitor out. If so, who rang, and why?”
“Just a moment, I have the statement here,” and he pulled out his pocket book, and took out a folded paper. “Here we are. Yes, you are quite right, I did not notice it at the time. You think that curious?”
“I think it—Hush, what was that?”
“What?” said the other.
“I could have sworn I heard someone moving.”
“Your man, probably. I heard nothing.”
“My man does not live in. Don’t move.”
He got to his feet without noise, and went to his desk. Opening a drawer he took out an automatic pistol, and went to the door. With a swift movement he flung it open. Outside was darkness. Collins turned on the light and looked around.
“Nothing,” he said. “Must have been my imagination. Hullo, what’s this?”
He stooped down and picked up a piece of paper from the floor.
It was a sheet torn from a pocket book, and he brought it into the room, closing the door carefully.
“Read that,” he said, and for all his coolness there was a tremble in his voice. “You are both on the wrong track. Poor fools,” and that was all.
“Come,” said Collins, incisively. “We must search the flat.”
It did not take long, as the flat was not a large one. There was not a trace of anyone, and the door was fast.
“Well, well, things are getting lively. We have to deal with a pretty customer. We shall have to look out for ourselves.”
Sinclair was white. He got up and helped himself to a whiskey.
Collins picked up the statement of Mrs. Simmons from the floor, and read it carefully through.
Then he folded it up and handed it back to Sinclair.
“Was there anything else found on his person of interest?” he said.
“Yes,” said Sinclair, and took from his pocket a leather case. “The other things were just the ordinary things a man carries: they are at the house. This I brought with me. It contains miniatures of Sir James’ wife and daughter. She is a beautiful girl, you saw her today?”
Collins looked
