“This programme I carried out, but not quite as I had intended. I was at the Duchess of Frothingham’s till a little after , when I returned home, dined and drove to King’s Cross to catch the for the north. This train was due at Montrose about the next morning, and it was my intention to drive the three or four miles out to the training stables and see the horses at their early exercise, returning to town when convenient.
“I reached King’s Cross in good time, found the sleeping berth which I had engaged was ready for me, deposited my things therein, and began to make myself comfortable. Wishing to smoke I drew out my cigar-case, and then I discovered it was empty. I was considerably annoyed, not only for my own sake, but because I wished to be able to offer a smoke to the man with whom I hoped to deal. I glanced at my watch. It was still . Thinking I had plenty of time I seized my hat and ran to the refreshment room, which was close by. As I was selecting some cigars I glanced up at the refreshment room clock. It was pointing to .
“ ‘Your clock’s fast, I suppose?’ I said.
“ ‘No, I don’t think so,’ the girl answered.
“I left the cigars on the counter and ran out on the platform. But the clock was right, and all I saw was my train moving off. It was already going too fast to board, and I had to accept the fact that it was gone with my luggage in the sleeping berth.
“I looked at my watch. It was still showing . It was usually an excellent timekeeper, but in some way which I can’t account for just on the occasion that mattered, it was three minutes slow. Pretty maddening, wasn’t it?”
“It’s the way things happen,” said Tanner philosophically.
“Isn’t it? Well, I got my cigars, and then I went to the Stationmaster’s Office and asked what I should do. It appeared there was a comparatively slow train to Dundee at , but the next to Montrose was the express at . Even by taking a car from Dundee this earlier train would not get me to the stables in time for the morning exercise, so I decided my best plan would be to take the . I then asked about a sleeping berth. But here my luck was out. All those on the were engaged.
“ ‘And what about my things that have gone on in the ?’ I asked.
“ ‘They will be all right,’ the clerk answered. ‘The first stop of both the and the is Grantham, and I shall wire the agent there to have your things collected from the and handed in to you on the .’
“This seemed the best arrangement, and I thanked the man, and having telegraphed to the dealer at Montrose, I strolled out of the station, wondering how I could best put in my three hours.
“More by force of habit than otherwise I took a taxi and drove back to my rooms. But my little adventure had made me restless, and I couldn’t settle down to spend a lonely evening. I would have liked to go to the Follies and see my friend Miss Betty Belcher, but I knew she was acting all the evening except during part of the second act, say from about till . To pass the time till I at last decided to go to the Empire. I did so. I left my rooms almost at once, drove to the Empire, sat there for an hour or so, and then went to the Follies. From about till I sat with Miss Belcher in her room, then when it was nearly time for her to go on again I made my adieux and returned to King’s Cross. I took care not to miss the , and at Grantham I got out and found a porter looking for me with my things. I duly reached Montrose about . So I trust you won’t any longer suspect me of being at Halford.”
Tanner laughed.
“How was I to know, sir, what you did until you told me? I am very greatly obliged. You have saved me an immensity of useless work.”
Cosgrove Ponson was quite mollified. He seemed like a man from whose shoulders a weight had been removed. He took out his cigar-case.
“I don’t know if it will confirm my story,” he said smiling, “but I hope in any case you will smoke one of the actual cigars I bought at King’s Cross.”
The Inspector accepted. He asked a few more questions, obtained the name of the Montrose horse-dealer, and then, with further compliments and thanks, took his leave.
It was obvious to him that, if true, Cosgrove’s story made a complete alibi. If he had been at King’s Cross at , at the Follies Theatre at , and had travelled from King’s Cross to Montrose by the express it was out of the question that he could have been at Luce Manor. Satisfied as Tanner was as to the soundness of Austin Ponson’s alibi, Cosgrove’s was even more convincing, and what was better still, it would be easier to test. Though he did not believe Cosgrove would make such a statement unless it could bear the touchstone of inquiry, Tanner felt his obvious next business would be to
