"Wait!" cried the rector. He had gotten to his feet again, his hand moving like some one scratching at a door. "You don't know the story. You don't know anything — just guesses — part of it"
"I don't know this story," snarled Robert Saunders, "and I've kept quiet long enough. I want to know about Tom. Where is he? Did you kill him, too? How long have you been posing here?"
"He died!" the other said, desperately. "I had nothing to do with it. He died. I swear to God I never did anything to him. I just wanted quiet, and peace, and respect, and I took his place…."
Aimless fingers were fumbling in the air. "Listen. All I want is a little time to think. I only want to sit here and close my eyes. You caught me so suddenly. Listen. I'll write you out everything, the whole story, and you'd never know it if I didn't. Not even you, Doctor. If I sit down here, now, and write it, will you promise to stop?"
He was almost like a huge and blubbering child. Looking at him narrowly, Dr. Fell said:
"I think you'd better let him, Inspector. He can't get away. And you can walk about the lawn, if you like."
Inspector Jennings was impassive. "Our instructions from Sir William, sir, at the Yard, were to take orders from you. Very well."
The rector drew himself up. Again that weird burlesque of his old mannerisms. "There is — ah — only one other thing. I must insist that Dr. Fell explain certain things to me, as I can explain certain things to you. In view of our past-friendship, will you be so good as to sit down here with me a few moments when the others have gone?"
A protest was almost out of Rampole's mouth. He was going to say, "There's a gun in that drawer! — " when he saw that Dr. Fell was looking at him. The lexicographer was casually lighting his pipe beside the fireplace, and his squinted eyes were asking for silence over the flame of the match….
It was almost dark now. A furious and wildly threatening Robert Saunders had to be led out by the inspector and Sir Benjamin. Rampole and the girl went out into the dim hallway. The last thing they saw was the doctor still lighting his pipe, and Thomas Saunders, his chin up and his expression indifferent, reaching towards the writing-table…