But the precaution was unnecessary. As the inspector advanced to the bellpull a head was thrust out of the open window immediately above the street door.
“Who are you?” inquired the owner of the head in a voice which I recognized as that of Mr. Jellicoe.
“I am Inspector Badger of the Criminal Investigation Department. I wish to see Mr. Arthur Jellicoe.”
“Then look at me. I am Mr. Arthur Jellicoe.”
“I hold a warrant for your arrest, Mr. Jellicoe. You are charged with the murder of Mr. John Bellingham, whose body has been discovered in the British Museum.”
“By whom?”
“By Doctor Thorndyke.”
“Indeed,” said Mr. Jellicoe. “Is he here?”
“Yes.”
“Ha! and you wish to arrest me, I presume?”
“Yes. That is what I am here for.”
“Well, I will agree to surrender myself subject to certain conditions.”
“I can’t make any conditions, Mr. Jellicoe.”
“No, I will make them, and you will accept them. Otherwise you will not arrest me.”
“It’s no use for you to talk like that,” said Badger. “If you don’t let me in I shall have to break in. And I may as well tell you,” he added mendaciously, “that the house is surrounded.”
“You may accept my assurance,” Mr. Jellicoe replied calmly, “that you will not arrest me if you do not accept my conditions.”
“Well, what are you conditions?” demanded Badger.
“I desire to make a statement,” said Mr. Jellicoe.
“You can do that, but I must caution you that anything you say may be used in evidence against you.”
“Naturally. But I wish to make the statement in the presence of Doctor Thorndyke, and I desire to hear a statement from him of the method of investigation by which he discovered the whereabouts of the body. That is to say, if he is willing.”
“If you mean that we should mutually enlighten one another, I am very willing indeed,” said Thorndyke.
“Very well. Then my conditions, Inspector, are that I shall hear Doctor Thorndyke’s statement and that I shall be permitted to make a statement myself, and that until those statements are completed, with any necessary interrogation and discussion, I shall remain at liberty and shall suffer no molestation or interference of any kind. And I agree that, on the conclusion of the said proceedings, I will submit without resistance to any course that you may adopt.”
“I can’t agree to that,” said Badger.
“Can’t you?” said Mr. Jellicoe coldly; and after a pause he added: “Don’t be hasty. I have given you warning.”
There was something in Mr. Jellicoe’s passionless tone that disturbed the inspector exceedingly, for he turned to Thorndyke and said in a low tone:
“I wonder what his game is? He can’t get away, you know.”
“There are several possibilities,” said Thorndyke.
“M’yes,” said Badger, stroking his chin perplexedly.
“After all, is there any objection? His statement might save trouble, and you’d be on the safe side. It would take you some time to break in.”
“Well,” said Mr. Jellicoe, with his hand on the window, “do you agree—yes or no?”
“All right,” said Badger sulkily. “I agree.”
“You promise not to molest me in any way until I have quite finished?”
“I promise.”
Mr. Jellicoe’s head disappeared and the window closed. After a short pause we heard the jar of massive bolts and the clank of a chain, and, as the heavy door swung open, Mr. Jellicoe stood revealed, calm and impassive, with an old-fashioned office candlestick in his hand.
“Who are the others?” he inquired, peering out sharply through his spectacles.
“Oh, they are nothing to do with me,” replied Badger.
“They are Doctor Berkeley and Doctor Jervis,” said Thorndyke.
“Ha!” said Mr. Jellicoe; “very kind and attentive of them to call. Pray, come in, gentlemen. I am sure you will be interested to hear our little discussion.”
He held the door open with a certain stiff courtesy, and we all entered the hall led by Inspector Badger. He closed the door softly and preceded us up the stairs and into the apartment from the window of which he had dictated the terms of surrender. It was a fine old room, spacious, lofty, and dignified, with paneled walls and a carved mantelpiece, the central escutcheon of which bore the initials “J. W. P.” with the date “1671.” A large writing-table stood at the farther end, and behind it was an iron safe.
“I have been expecting this visit,” Mr. Jellicoe remarked tranquilly as he placed four chairs opposite the table.
“Since when?” asked Thorndyke.
“Since last Monday evening, when I had the pleasure of seeing you conversing with my friend Doctor Berkeley at the Inner Temple gate, and then inferred that you were retained in the case. That was a circumstance that had not been fully provided for. May I offer you gentlemen a glass of sherry?”
As he spoke he placed on the table a decanter and a tray of glasses, and looked at us interrogatively with his hand on the stopper.
“Well, I don’t mind if I do, Mr. Jellicoe,” said Badger, on whom the lawyer’s glance had finally settled. Mr. Jellicoe filled a glass and handed it to him with a stiff bow; then, with the decanter still in his hand, he said persuasively: “Doctor Thorndyke, pray allow me to fill you a glass?”
“No, thank you,” said Thorndyke, in a tone so decided that the inspector looked round at him quickly. And as Badger caught his eye, the glass which he was about to raise to his lips became suddenly arrested and was slowly returned to the table untasted.
“I don’t want to hurry you, Mr. Jellicoe,” said the inspector, “but it’s rather late, and I should like to get this business settled. What is it that you wish to do?”
“I desire,” replied Mr. Jellicoe, “to make a detailed statement of the events that have happened, and I wish to hear from Doctor Thorndyke precisely how he arrived at his very remarkable conclusion. When this has been done I shall be entirely at your service; and I suggest that it would be more interesting if Doctor Thorndyke would give us his statement before I furnish you with the actual facts.”
“I am entirely of your
