“Have you”—McLane handed the flask back to Barclay—“have you made any inquiries about this flask at the Japanese Embassy?”
“I went to the embassy, but found the ambassador away on a trip through the Middle West, and the embassy staff denied all knowledge of the flask. I am afraid I am taking up too much of your time,” he added, rising.
“No, no, sit down,” McLane raised a protesting hand, and Barclay resumed his seat. “I am glad to talk over Tilghman’s mysterious death with you, Mr. Barclay. Now, let me understand your theory of his murder—you believe that Ito, the Jap, having some ulterior motive, followed my cousin on his trip east, murdered him, and slipped away?”
“Yes, that is about my idea,” admitted Barclay. “Take the flask it is a reasonable supposition that, not finding it in the smoking car near where Tilghman sat, or among his effects, the murderer removed my flask. He would not have taken it away if the flask had not been incriminating; therefore, I believe the oxalic acid was introduced into my flask.”
“It would seem so,” agreed McLane. “But we have yet to discover how it was introduced into the brandy without Tilghman’s knowledge—and until then we have no real proof against anyone.”
“I cannot agree with you,” replied Barclay obstinately. “I know the flask was originally owned by a Jap; I meet a Jap, who has a scuffle with Tilghman shortly before he is murdered; and this Jap is familiar with the chrysanthemum design of my flask, even to the minutest detail—why should he think of that flask at that time unless he had recently seen it?” finished Barclay triumphantly.
“Memory plays queer tricks,” responded McLane. “It might be that Ito—look here,” checking himself. “If Ito had murdered Tilghman by putting poison in your flask, the last thing he would do would be to call attention to the flask—it would be betraying too great a familiarity with the crime.”
“Yes, but it is just in those small points that a criminal betrays himself,” argued Barclay. “Giving his alibi, which may or may not be false, but which admits of his having been in the smoking car at the hour Tilghman was poisoned, Ito leaves the train at Spartanburg, and the next time I catch a glimpse of him is in the Japanese Embassy, and a few minutes later I find a flask resembling mine on a desk in the embassy. I tell you, Doctor,” emphasizing his words by striking his hand in his open palm, “the silver flask and Ito form a connecting link in the chain of events leading to the murder of Dwight Tilghman.”
“Perhaps, but I cannot see the significance”—McLane paused, and Barclay broke in hastily.
“My object in calling, Doctor, was to ascertain if Tilghman was using his Congressional influence to the detriment of Japanese interests here and abroad.”