Webb licked his lips. “Let me make a statement, Inspector. You put it down as I give it to yer. This is a facer, and no mistake. But on your life, guvnor, I’m as innocent as a new-born babe.”
Baddeley made a sign to Roper. He produced his note-book.
Webb moistened his lips again. “It’s like this. You’ve caught me properly and you’ve taken the goods off of me. There’s no gainsayin’ that. But I reckon I know when the tide’s runnin’ against me, and I figure out that time’s now. I got the necklace last night, or you can call it, about two o’clock yesterday morning. How you got on to me I can’t tell no more than Adam, but here I am with the bracelets on me. S’elp me God, Inspector, I was away from this place by ten minutes past two, and never set eyes on a livin’ soul. I’ll take my dyin’ oath on that.”
“You never met Mr. Prescott at all?” asked Anthony.
“I never met nobody and I’ve never ’eard of Mr. Prescott.”
“How do you account for this shoe-lace being found in your pocket?”
“I can’t, guvnor, and that’s a fact. I can’t even say as ’ow it is mine.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, if it’s mine, it’s laid in that pocket for weeks without me noticin’ it.”
Baddeley turned to Anthony Bathurst. “I don’t think we shall gain much by keeping him any longer. I’ll send him down with Roper. Yes?” Anthony nodded. But he was apparently far from happy at the singular twist things had taken. I could very well imagine one or two of his preconceived theories had toppled very sickeningly from their citadels. “Motor him down to the station then, Roper.”