“Oh, I don’t mind him. He could be dealt with. But he’s right, confound him. The case is a most unholy mess.”
“Well, well,” said Reggie placidly. “You must rub it out, dear, and do it again.”
“If everybody had tried to muddle it they couldn’t have done worse.”
Reggie stared at him. “Yes. Yes, you have your moments, Lomas,” he said.
“Suppose the butler did the murder. Why in the world should he wait to run away till Mark was certain to be found guilty?”
“And suppose he didn’t, why did he run away at all? You can make up quite a lot of riddles in this business. Why should anyone but Mark do it? Why is Mark so mighty tender of the butler’s reputation? Why is anything?”
“Yes, it’s all crazy—except Sir Brian. He’s reasonable enough, confound him.”
“Yes. Yes, these rational men are a nuisance to the police. Well, well, begin again at the beginning.”
“I wish I knew where it did begin.”
“My dear fellow! Are we down-hearted? I’ll have a look at the medical evidence. You go over Carwell Hall and the butler’s digs with a small tooth comb.”