“Not definitely now. It might have begun with a small tear and then become larger—it would look like a burst.”
Poole stared at him.
“And what are you driving at, Poole?” asked the Chief Inspector. “That Hessel himself struck Fratten?”
Poole looked at his Chief coolly.
“That’s jumping a bit far, sir, but we’ve no proof at the moment that he didn’t—only his own story.”
“What about that chap at the House of Commons; didn’t he see Fratten fall?”
“Smythe? He saw them walking in front of him, then a car came between them and when it cleared, Fratten was going down. He saw no blow—at least he said nothing about one.”
“On which side of Fratten was Hessel walking?”
“I don’t know, sir. Coming down the Steps, of course, he was on Fratten’s right.”
“And probably was here. Find out about that, Poole, and also whether Hessel is right- or left-handed. Anyhow I don’t believe it. Hessel said, if I remember aright, that he had his arm through Fratten’s—Smythe can probably confirm that; he could hardly have taken it out and struck him a violent blow without someone seeing. We’ll assume the linked arms and the left-handedness for a moment; come on, we’ll try it.”