`The person I’m interested in talking about,' Hadley interposed, `is Lester Bitton. You're pretty well aware, aren't you, Fell, that he's the murderer?'
The doctor was setting out glasses. He took the bottle from Hadley, waved away the other's suggestion of washing the glasses, and filled them. He said: `Suppose Bitton has an alibi? You've got almost a case to go to the jury on… unless he has an alibi. That's what's worrying me. Tell me, Mr
Dalrye, when did you last see Sir William Bitton?'
`Sir…?' Dalrye raised his head and regarded the other with puzzled eyes. `Sir William?' he repeated. `Why, at the house to-night. General Mason suggested that I go back with him, when he returned from the Tower of London.!
'Did the general tell him about who really owned the manuscript? Arbor, I mean? Or did you know about it?'
'I knew about it. Sir William goes about telling everybody,' Dalrye answered, grimly, 'that nobody knows of the, manuscript, and then proceeds to share his secret with everybody. Did he tell you that you were the first to hear of it?'
`Yes'
'He's told both the general and myself the same thing. We heard it weeks ago.'
'What did he say when Mason told him it belonged to Arbor?'
'That's the funny part. Nothing much. He just said, "I see," and got very quiet.' It's pretty clear that he suspected as much all along. Then he said.. '