Dedicated by command to Tony Wilson...

“In the matter of information, above all regard with suspicion that which seems probable. Begin always by believing what seems incredible.” Gaboriau, Monsieur Lecoq...

Nothing is ever wasted. The death of the animal fertilizes the vegetable world: bees swarm in the disused pillar-box; sooner or later, somebody will find a use for the munition-factories. And the old ...

The view from the third tee was one which even a golfer might pause to admire. Let the Wordsworthian say what he will, railways ennoble our landscape; they give to our unassuming valleys a hint of mot...

If the general accommodation at the Paston Oatvile dormy-house cannot be described as cloistral, it must be admitted that the rooms in it where you can claim privacy are not much better than cells. Mo...

There is no surer soporific than sleeping over a problem, no more fallacious method of attempting a solution. After murmuring to himself three times, “Let’s see; there was something about watches,” Mo...

The afternoon seemed a compensation for yesterday; October sun glowed temperately over the links, with the air of a kind old gentleman producing sweetmeats unexpectedly. The rich but transient gold of...

Gordon felt that he was in a favourable position for inquiring into the whereabouts of the mysterious Mr. Davenant. He was himself little known at Paston Whitchurch, since he had only been a month at ...

“Good Lord,” said Reeves, when the first shock of astonishment was over, “tell us some more about it. How did you know?” Carmichael joined the tips of his fingers and beamed at them, secure of an audi...

The inquest was held on the following afternoon (that is, the afternoon of Thursday) in the village school at Paston Whitchurch. As he sat waiting to give his evidence, Reeves found his mind dominated...

“Well,” said Reeves impatiently, as Marryatt came, rather late, into the dining-room, “did you find out?” “Yes, I went round to Campbell’s⁠—” “But it’s early closing day.” “Yes, only⁠ ⁠… only Campbell...

Morning, as might have been expected, brought division of counsel. Mordaunt Reeves could now find no difference between the photograph as he saw it at the moment and the photograph as he had seen it a...

“I don’t quite see what you mean,” said Reeves as they sat down to luncheon. “Never mind,” said Carmichael, “we shall see if I’m right or not. Meanwhile, there’s the funeral this afternoon, and it wou...

If Carmichael let his colleagues in for a late sitting, at least he made amends for it himself by unwontedly early rising. Reeves found him fully dressed when, pyjamaed himself, he set out for his mor...

“Well,” said Gordon, “what do we do next?” “The first thing,” said Carmichael, “is to shut up this hole again exactly as it was. The next thing is to discuss what we do next. And, Reeves, I think it m...

“Now then,” said the policeman, falling back on a formula in face of an unexpected situation. “What’s all this about?” There can be no doubt that, on most occasions, the sense of humour is a handicap ...

“It seems,” said Carmichael, blinking through his spectacles, “that I have been mistaken. My old tutor always used to say to me⁠—that was Benger: I suppose he’d be before your time, Gordon? Of course ...

The conversation recorded in the last chapter took place (I forgot to say) on Saturday afternoon. It was while he was at tea downstairs that a message was brought in to Reeves telling him that a lady ...

He met Marryatt on his way upstairs⁠—Marryatt looking pained, as he always did when bad news went round. “I must congratulate you on your driving, Reeves. It’s all over the Club. But when I think of t...

When they met at breakfast next morning, Gordon was in a chastened mood. “I was thinking over our ideas last night in bed, and I see that it’s all a washout. The thing doesn’t work.” “Doesn’t work?” “...

For some time after they had left, Mordaunt Reeves sat in his armchair hunting that most difficult of quarries, an intellectual inspiration. Merely artistic inspiration greets us when it wills, at the...

Reeves went to sit in Gordon’s room when he got back; his own was apt to be a port of call for stray comers, and he wanted this to be a tête-à-tête. “I wish to God,” he started, “that I’d never been d...

Marryatt came and sat with them at dinner⁠—a situation which called forth Reeves’ utmost powers of self-control. He was glad that Carmichael was there too; glad that he had not communicated to him the...

“Hullo, Marryatt, is that you?” “Yes; who’s speaking?” “It’s about Brotherhood. You’ll guess before I’ve finished who it is speaking, so I’d better tell you at once; it’s Reeves. I am going to talk to...

Mordaunt Reeves looked up in a dazed way, still holding the tube. “What was that you said?” “I said, Davenant’s confessed. It’s an extraordinary thing, you know, the way we use ambiguous expressions, ...

Gordon fell into Reeves’ other armchair and shouted with laughter. Nothing could be more disagreeable to nerves already jangled. Reeves almost shook him into position, demanding explanations. “It’s al...

Reeves has just been in to inform me that Davenant has been hung. A laughable misconception, of course; he has not been hung, he has been hanged. I write as you asked me to write, to supply what infor...

To the Reader⁠—This chapter may be omitted if the book be thought too long. ↩...