Never in all his career as a detective had he met with a case in which he had so little foundation on which to base a possible reason for the crime.
Suddenly he uttered a low exclamation.
A new idea had come to him.
It would solve some of the seeming mysteries of the case.
Argumentatively he said to himself:
“Now, then, somebody, for some reason as yet unknown, desires the death of Mr. Field. He or they came here for the purpose of ending his existence. He or they believe it has been accomplished and go away. He or they may have been in league with this Joe Timon—as to which more anon. Contrary: Somebody else turns up and discovers the body of Mr. Field, who may be alive or dead. This second he or they have reason to wish the existence of Mr. Field, to insure which or make his death an uncertainty, he or they carry away his body. Two parties of rascals, with different aims, are concerned in producing this apparently inexplicable state of affairs. I must now see those who are acquainted with the private life of Mr. Field during these last ten years, and ferret out such truths as may tend to prove or disprove this idea.”
Good or bad, right or wrong, he had at last got hold of an idea on which to work, had formed a theory to prove or discover to be worthless.
In taking hold of a case it is positively necessary, if a man is going to do good work, to have a theory or outline in mind on which to work.
This Nick Carter now had.
On reaching the house he called for the servants to question them.