‘But you forget Tanner’s time table. Cosgrove wouldn’t have had time to go to Luce Manor between the trains.’
‘Yes!’ cried Lois excitedly, ‘he would! That’s the point I’ve been coming to. According to Mr Tanner’s calculations he would have had time or almost time, to go to Luce Manor and back, but he wouldn’t have had time to commit the murder. But Mr Tanner assumed he had first driven to his rooms. If he had gone direct from King’s Cross he would have had time for all.’
This was a new idea to Daunt, and he had to admit its possibility.
‘It may be so certainly,’ he answered, ‘but how are we to prove it? That butler won’t give himself away if he has lied.’
‘I’ve thought of that, too, and there seems to be one way we might get at it. Mr Cosgrove said he took three drives during that time—first, from King’s Cross to Knightsbridge; second, from Knightsbridge to the Empire; and third, from the Follies’, to King’s Cross. Could we not find the cabmen, or at least one of them?’
‘By Jove, Lois, you should have been a detective,’ Daunt said with half-unwilling admiration. ‘I believe it’s a good notion.’
‘You see, if we were to search for these men thoroughly and fail to find them, it would greatly strengthen my theory. On the other hand, if we found them we would be sure of what we are up against, for if Mr Cosgrove took any one of the drives, his statement must be true. Will you try to find them, Jimmy? Or’—her eyes brightened eagerly—‘let’s do it together. Would you mind?’
‘Mind?’ he echoed. ‘Dear girl, what do you take me for? I’m ready to begin now—in collaboration with you, that is.’
‘Dear Jimmy, you are so good. I can never thank you enough.’
‘What utter rubbish. Now let’s get to work. Have you made any plans?’