Inspector Agnew picked up the spoon and tapped it on the desk.
"Do you think, sir," he asked, "that the person in question has twigged it that we know what we do know?"
H.M. meditated.
"I don't see how, son. The subject's never been brought up, at least by Masters or me; and our star witness is primed in case questions are asked. Now, Masters, speak up: what about it?"
Masters was dogged.
"Now, sir, it's all very well to say that," he complained. "But we can't go flying off the handle like that. I admit that the person you say is guilty is guilty. Lummy, I can't very well deny it! We've been fooled by as innocent-faced a piece of acting from a thoroughgoing snake as I ever saw."
"You're right there," agreed Agnew, contemplating the past without amusement.
"Very well!" said Masters. "The case is good. But it's not complete."
He tapped a sheaf of documents.
"We've got here evidence of motive: that's good. We've got here," he tapped an official form, "the statement of the chemist, Lewis L. Lewis: that's better. We've got here, after some downright fine staff-work by Inspector Agnew," continued Masters, who believes in keeping in well with the local police, "evidence of the purchase of the knife in Gloucester. That's still better."