“Whatever is the meaning of the whole business,” said Watson. “I am all in the dark.”
“Did Collins tell you nothing on the way?” said Sinclair.
“No, he came and said that it was absolutely necessary for us to get to London at once. He said the honour of my father’s name was involved, and that the matter must be kept secret, especially from the police. He hinted that there was some secret connected with my father’s past life. He was so insistent that I went blindly with him.”
“You have had a lucky escape,” said Sinclair. “Collins, in my view, was the murderer of your father.”
“What!” said Watson, starting forward in his seat.
“The others here are sceptical, they cannot believe it. It all hangs on a document which your father said he had hidden. He wrote and told me.” He took the letter from his pocket, and handed it to Watson, who read it with a puzzled air.
“But I don’t understand. He says he hid it where he once put his will in my presence.”
“Exactly.”
“Then why did Collins want to go to London?”
“To get it, I suppose,” said Sinclair.