The inspector said nothing, but followed his superior officer back into the other room.
“Well, Mr. Thomas,” said the superintendent, “I shall certainly offer no opposition to your client’s release. Will you take the necessary steps on your side?”
Thomas said that he would, and the superintendent added that, in that case, there should be neither difficulty nor delay. Only formal evidence of arrest had been offered before the magistrate, and they might now consider the charge as definitely dropped.
Joan began to thank him; but he stopped her.
“It is not a matter for thanks,” he said. “We appear to have arrested the wrong man, and the need for apologies, if it exists, is on our side. You will, however, agree that appearances were strongly against Mr. Brooklyn, and that we could hardly have taken any other course. Indeed, it seems clear that whoever did commit the murder, or murders, must have deliberately planned to throw suspicion on your stepfather. That, I think, furnishes an important clue.”
“But I suppose you have now no idea at all who the murderer was?”
“It is hardly fair to ask me that question, Miss Cowper,” said the superintendent, smiling. “You come here, and knock the police theory into smithereens, and then you ask us if we have another theory ready-made. No. We have not a theory, but we do possess certain very important clues.”
At this point Thomas had a word to say. “It is just possible that I may be able to help you there. In preparing for the defence of my client, I had, of course, to consider who the criminal, or criminals, might be, and to make certain inquiries. I lighted on certain information which you may find useful. I am not likely to need it now; but I will gladly make you a present of it for what it is worth.”
“What is your information?”
“I believe you have been watching certain of the servants at Liskeard House—Morgan, I mean, and the butler, Winter.”