"Two years intervening," I returned.
"Wigan, it would be interesting to know if a similar murder occurred anywhere in the intervening year at that date," said Quarles.
"You have a theory, professor?"
"An outlandish one which would make you laugh. No, no; I do not like being laughed at. I never mention my theories until I have some facts to support them. I am interested in this case. Perhaps I shall go to Withan."
There was nothing more to be got out of the professor just then, and I departed.
I took the trouble to make inquiry whether any similar crime had happened in England in the January of the preceding year, and had the same inquiry made in France. There was no record of any murder bearing the slightest resemblance to the Withan tragedy.
A few days later Quarles telegraphed me to meet him at Kings Cross, and we traveled North together.
"Wait," he said when I began to question him. "I am not sure yet. My theory seems absurd. We are going to find out if it is."
We took rooms at a hotel in Medworth, Quarles explaining that our investigations might take some days.
Next morning, instead of going to Withan as I had expected, he took me to the police court, and seemed to find much amusement in listening to some commonplace cases, and was not very complimentary in his remarks about the bench of magistrates. The next afternoon he arranged a drive. I thought we were going to Withan, but we turned away from the village, and presently Quarles stopped the carriage.