“How do you explain this telephone conversation in which I never took part, but in which Mr. Tompkins understood me to instruct him to deliver his message to you?”
Rich, once more perfectly at ease, replied: “I explain it by telling you it is a lie; just one more bit of this whole elaborate frame-up. I told you Tompkins was probably involved in this business, and had probably absconded.”
“Or committed suicide,” put in Barton.
Rich ignored the interruption and continued: “When he heard that there was a conspiracy on foot to discredit me, he saw his chance to get in on the thing. He has doubtless been in conference with others in his gang, and they have decided that this story is the best way to play their game.”
There was a pause. Admiral Bishop stroked his whiskers and nodded approvingly.
“I think that is a very reasonable explanation, Mr. Secretary,” he said.
Evans then spoke.
“I think there is now a chance of putting this thing to the test of something better than words. Until Tompkins entered the room just now I had no idea he was in Washington; I didn’t know whether he was still alive. I have therefore had no possible chance of collusion with him since I got home from the Azores. Are you satisfied on that point?”
“Perfectly,” answered Mortimer.
“I should now like to ask Tompkins if he felt sure that he recognized the voice in the telephone as yours,” continued Evans. “Is that a fair question?”