`I don't care who sees him, so long as he talks,' the chief inspector replied, testily. `You can stay here and wait for him, if you like. But I'd much prefer that you came along with me. We can leave Mr Rampole to talk to him until we get back.
`Tell them to bring him to Bitton's.'
'To Bitton's? But, good God, man! You don't want, `I have rather a fancy,' said the doctor, `to see how he acts there. Let poor Marks stay in the flat and direct them over when they get here.'
It had been arranged that way. Hadley's Daimler flashed through the quiet streets, and the hands of the illuminated clock on the dashboard pointed to nearly one o'clock as they reached Berkeley Square.
When they went up the shallow steps of the Bitton house, Hadley paused with his hand on the bell.
`I know only two quotations,' he said, quietly, `but I'm going to tell one of them now. Do you know what it is?'
Dr Fell dropped the ferrule of his cane on the step with a hollow shock which had its echo.
"'It must be confessed," ' he repeated, "'It will be confessed; there is no refuge from confession but suicide, and suicide is confession."'
Hadley rang the bell.
There was no sign of confusion in the house when the heavy door was opened. All the blinds had been drawn and the curtains closed, but every light was on. It was the absolute hush which was sinister. An old, grave-faced man ushered them into a massive blue entrance hall with, a crystal chandelier.