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Brereton turned to the solicitor, who, during the recital of facts by the two inquiry agents, had maintained his judicial attitude, as if he were on the bench and listening to the opening statements of counsel. "Are you suggesting, all of you that you think Miss Pett murdered Kitely?" he asked. "I should like a direct answer to that question." "My dear sir!" exclaimed Carfax.
For Kitely sat straight up and looked the junior partner squarely in the face. "Better not, Mr. Cotherstone!" he said, with a grin that showed his yellow teeth. "You can't very well choke the life out of me in your own office, can you? You couldn't hide my old carcase as easily as you and Mallalieu hid those Building Society funds, you know. So be calm!
Brereton had expected that the police would ask for an adjournment after the usual evidence of the superficial facts, and of the prisoner's arrest, had been offered; instead of that, the prosecution brought forward several witnesses, and amongst them the bank-manager, who said that when he cashed Kitely's draft for him the previous morning, in Harborough's presence, he gave Kitely the one half of the money in gold.
He foresaw the trend of events in this affair. This was only a preliminary. The prosecution was charging him and Cotherstone with the murder of Stoner today: it would be charging them with the murder of Kitely tomorrow. Myler's evidence caused a profound sensation in court but there was even more sensation and more excitement when Myler's father-in-law followed him in the witness-box.
"No need to grow warm," he answered. "Of course, it's excusable in you. Who am I? Well, if you really want to know, I've been employed in the police line for thirty-five years until lately." "A detective!" exclaimed Cotherstone. "Not when I was present at Wilchester that time," replied Kitely. "But afterwards in due course. Ah! do you know, I often was curious as to what became of you both!
And on the night on which that man Kitely was murdered," concluded the solicitor, "Harborough was with my client from nine o'clock until half-past four in the morning, when he parted with him near Hexendale railway station. Mr. Wraythwaite will swear that." "And fortunately, we have some corroboration," observed Brereton, with a glance at Avice, "for whether Mr.
Kitely, now, he was a townsman a London man. I'm a countrywoman. He didn't understand you couldn't get him to understand that it's not safe to go walking in lonely places in country districts like this late at night. When I'd got to know his habits, I expostulated with him more than once.
After much reflection he decided that nobody but Stoner did know. Further reckoning up of matters gave him a theory as to how Stoner had got to know. He saw it all according to his own idea. Stoner had overheard the conversation between old Kitely and Cotherstone in the private office, of course! That was it he wondered he had never thought of it before.
I know your tale Kitely'd no secrets from me. You stir a step to tell anybody, and I'll begin by going straight to young Bent and I'll not stop at that, neither. So you see where I was I was frightened to death of that old affair getting out, and I knew then that Kitely was a liar and had told this old woman all about it, and well, I hesitated.
"Bah!" sneered Kitely. "D'ye think I'm a fool? Not likely. Well now you know. I'll come in here again tomorrow afternoon. And you'll both be here, and ready with a proposal." He picked up his glass, leisurely drank off its remaining contents, and without a word of farewell opened the door and went quietly away.
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