"I say it's not as simple as that. What sort of explanation have we got after all?"
"What sort of explanation?"
"Yes. There's an explanation of a series of peculiar contradictions in the physical evidence, a string of queernesses like the string of cuff-links. The oddities are accounted for. We know why some books were missing from a shelf, why furniture was changed in a room, why lights flickered round a flower-pot turned upside down. Well? Where does it get us after all? Remember, there's still the fact that someone poisoned Hogenauer. Why? If all this is true — why? No L. No spy-plot. But why did Hogenauer mention L., and why did he want two thousand pounds for betraying his identity? What good would two thousand pounds be to him in forwarding an experiment like this? Then there's the question of the counterfeit money."
"What money?"
I explained, briefly. "Whereupon Serpos steals the money and does a bunk, on the same evening that Hogenauer is poisoned. But in a newspaper in Hogenauer's scullery is a counterfeit £100 note. Was Hogenauer tied up into the gang, somehow? Go on: swear at H.M. all you like. But I'd be willing to bet he's playing a much deeper game than any of us could guess."
Murchison drew a vast breath and shook himself.
"Well, that's neither here nor there. My job, right now-" He looked towards the door, scowling. "Mess! Ruddy mess, that's what it is! And I-well, I assisted, in a manner of speaking. There's only one consolation. The end of the business isn't here. The end of the business is back in Torquay. Someone there gave Hogenauer the poison, and Hogenauer gave it to Dr. Keppel. There can't be any investigation., from this end. All we've got to do is pick up the pieces. Point is, Mr. Blake, what do you intend to do?"
"Ring up H.M at Torquay and report: with feeling. Then our part of the business is finished. Afterwards-'
"Yes?"
I faced it. "That depends entirely on you. Officially, you've got us. In two places tonight I've been the first to discover a body! I must be wanted rather badly. On the other hand, H.M. promised protection. If we've walked into the frying pan with you, we're past hope. But, if you've talked to Stone, you must know that we're supposed to be in London to be married at eleven-thirty to-morrow morning."