"But how——?" began the inspector.
"I telephoned to his housekeeper in the name of a local grocer and asked if it would be Sir Jasper who had ordered some marmalade, as an assistant could not remember the gentleman's name. That grocer, I suspect, got into trouble, as the housekeeper seemed to expect him to know that Sir Jasper disliked marmalade."
"Well, you seem to have got the thing pretty well figured out," remarked Sir John Dene grimly.
"Another man's life and liberty were at stake," was the calm reply, "otherwise——" he shrugged his shoulders.
"As Sir Jasper did not come forward I wrote to him yesterday giving him until noon to-day to make a statement," continued Malcolm Sage, "otherwise I should have to take steps to save the man condemned."
Then after a short pause he continued: "In Sir Jasper Chambers you have an illustration of the smallness of a great mind. He has devoted his vast wealth to philanthropy; yet he was willing to allow another man to be hanged for his crime."
"And this, I take it," said Sir John Dene, "is his reply," and he handed a letter across to Malcolm Sage.
"Read it out," he said.
Malcolm Sage glanced swiftly through the pages and then read:—
My Dear Dene,——