“Yet you would like to reject the obvious.”
“Exactly so.”
“Why?”
“Because the motive doesn’t seem sufficient.”
George Clarendon nodded. Thus encouraged, Burke went into his story.
“Chatham must have had money,” he said. “Yet he borrowed thirty thousand dollars from Wilkinson. His note was accepted. Wilkinson put it away.
“Six months, Chatham would have to pay that note; yet he murdered Wilkinson on the spot. It seemed a foolish thing to do. He could have waited a while, if murder was necessary.”
“But suppose a sudden quarrel occurred?”
“That’s just it. Chatham showed great presence of mind when he encountered Wilkinson’s servant, outside the room. The testimony showed that he came out quietly, without haste.
“Therefore, I am wondering why Chatham didn’t take time to open the metal box and take out the note he gave to Wilkinson.”