Hawkesbury, looking anything but triumphant, obeyed, and Mr Barnacle, who evidently suspected the real truth more than his partner did, turned to me.
“Batchelor, do you still decline to offer any explanation of the discovery of this key in your desk?”
“I can only say,” I replied, “that it must have been put there, for I never touched it.”
“Who would put it there?”
“Hawkesbury, I suppose. When he and his friend dragged me up stairs my desk was left open.”
“Can you describe this Masham?”
I could, and did.
“The description,” said the detective, “tallies exactly with that given at the bank of the person who presented the cheque.”
“Do you know his writing?”
“I know what I believe to be his writing,” said I.