I had counted on striking him dumb with astonishment. He was Scottishly unmoved.
"Well," he said, coming forward with outstretched hand, "I'm glad to see you. I knew you would have come to us sooner or later!"
I felt that my eyes sparkled. There was no resentment within my heart.
I rejoiced.
"Look," he continued, taking a slip of paper from his note-book. "This is a copy of a note I left with Dr. Stuart some time ago. Read it."
I did so, and this is what I read:
"A: the name of the man who cut out the lid of the cardboard box and sealed it in the envelope—Gaston Max!
"B: the name of the missing cabman—Gaston Max!
"C: the name of the man who rang me up at Dr. Stuart's and told me that Gaston Max was dead—Gaston Max!"
I returned the slip to Inspector Dunbar. I bowed.
"It is a pleasure and a privilege to work with you, Inspector," I said ….