“Not quite,” said the other. “There is first the work of a madman.”
“But that is nevertheless murder,” said Sinclair.
“Yes; but we then have to proceed on an entirely different basis. If this is the work of a lunatic, it explains the telephone messages and the newspaper article. It is just the sort of thing that a madman with an inordinate vanity would do. And we need not look for motive. If that is so, our task will be simplified.”
The others agreed.
“Now we come to the fourth. A cold-blooded and deliberate murder, of which each detail was planned beforehand so accurately that the criminal had the effrontery to inform the Press before it was done.”
“That is the most probable,” said Sinclair.
“I agree, but we must not lose sight of the others.”
“Now for our facts. At sometime before 2.30 when the box was cleared, a letter was posted at Westminster Bridge Post Office, the contents of which you know. At 3.00 o’clock a man calls on the Home Secretary who is either expected or well known to Sir James.”
“How do you know that?” said Boyce.
“Surely,” said Collins; “he opened the door himself, and takes him straight to his library.”