“No, sir, not exactly that—I can’t tell you quite what I mean—but I should know it if I ever saw it again.”
Dr. Anselm desisted from worrying the witness any more, and having summed the whole facts up, concisely and accurately, the jury were asked for their verdict. It was speedily forthcoming. “Wilful Murder against some person or persons unknown—death having been caused by strangulation.”
We filed out of the room one by one. I was anxious to ask Anthony his opinion of the two fresh witnesses. I turned to address him when I found, to my surprise, Inspector Baddeley at our sides.
“I’d like a chat with you, Mr. Bathurst,” he said, “at your convenience.”
“Whenever you like, Baddeley! You’ve deserted the ‘Spider’ then?”
“Not altogether, although it might appear to be so,” came the answer.
“You must have strong reasons.”
“Pretty fair,” grinned the Inspector. Then his face relapsed into the grave again. “Still, I’m not denying that I’m puzzled,” he admitted. “I can’t get the facts to tally at all. That’s why I want a word with you. Understand?”
Anthony patted him on the back. “Only too pleased, Inspector; the case has been rather troublesome, I admit.” We walked home together.