"I thought—" he added, beaming, as his hand dived among the wrappings and lifted up a tangled coil of film like a genial Laocoon, "I thought it might be better to have it sent up here before the police rake over the Blind Barber's effects and cause scandal by finding this. I'll hand it over to young Warren when he arrives, so that he can destroy it immediately; although, in return for the favour, do you think he would consent to running it privately, just once, for my benefit? Heh-heh-heh! Hang it all, I think I can insist on that much reward, hey? Of course, it's holding back evidence, in a way. But there'll be enough to hang the Barber without it. It was my price for pointing out the culprit to Captain Whistler and handing him the credit of capturing a dangerous criminal. I felt the old sea-horse would comply… "
Tossing the rustling coil across on Morgan's arm, Dr. Fell sat back and blinked. Morgan was on his feet, staring.
"You mean, then, the man is under arrest already?"
"Oh, yes. Caught neatly by the brilliant Captain Whistler — who will get a medal for this, and completing everybody's happiness — an hour before the ship docked. Inspector Jennings, at my suggestion, went down from the Yard in a fast car and was ready to take the Barber in charge when he landed… "
"Ready to take who in charge?" he demanded.
"Why, the impostor who calls himself Lord Sturton, of course!" said Dr. Fell.
21 — The Murderer
"I perceive on your face," continued the doctor affably, as he lit his pipe, "a certain frog-like expression which would seem to indicate astonishment. H'm! puff, puff, haaaa! You should not be in the least astonished. Under the data given, as I have tabulated in my sixteen clues, there was only one person who could conceivably have been guilty. If I were wrong on my first eight — which, as I pointed out to you, were mere suggestions — then no harm could be done by testing my theory. The second eight confirmed it, and so I had no fear of the result. But, not to leap in too sylph-like a fashion at conclusions, I did this. Here is a copy of the telegram I dispatched to Captain Whistler."
He drew a scribbled envelope from his pocket, on which Morgan read:
Man calling himself Viscount Sturton is impostor. Hold him under port authority and ask to speak to Hilda Keller, secretary travelling with him. He will not be able to produce her; she is dead. Make thorough search of Man's cabin and person. You will find evidence to support you. Among possessions you will probably find film____ (Here followed a description.) If you will send this to me special messenger travelling train arriving Waterloo 3:50, kindly say capture was your own idea. Release Fortinbras from brig. All regards. Gideon Fell.