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They were at Ransford's garden gate by that time, and Ransford flung it open and motioned Bryce to follow. He led the way into the dining-room, closed the door on the three, and looked at Bryce. Bryce took the glance as a question, and put another, in words. "You've heard of what's happened during the day?" he said. "About Collishaw yes," answered Ransford.
Rumour is being spread secretly and, I am certain from the police, who ought to know better. And I will not be silenced, Mr. Coroner! I take this public opportunity, as I am on oath, of saying that I know nothing whatever of the causes of the deaths of either Collishaw or of Braden upon my solemn oath!" "The inquest is adjourned to this day week," said the Coroner quietly.
"I'm not going to hate myself on Pemberton Bryce's account," said Ransford. "Let him play his game that he has one, I'm certain." Bryce had gone away to continue his game or another line of it. The Collishaw matter had not made him forget the Richard Jenkins tomb, and now, after leaving Ransford's house, he crossed the Close to Paradise with the object of doing a little more investigation.
Bryce's account of his finding of Collishaw amounted to no more than a bare recital of facts. Nor was much time spent in questioning the two doctors who had conducted the post-mortem examination. Their evidence, terse and particular, referred solely to the cause of death.
"I'll take a look at it some time," said Jettison, putting the pamphlet in his pocket. "Well, now, I also understand that Collishaw was in the habit of bringing you a bit of saved money now and then a sort of saving fellow, wasn't he?" Stebbing nodded assent and reached for a ledger which lay on the farther side of his desk.
And all that fits in with the second mystery of Collishaw who probably knew, if not everything, then something, of the exact circumstances of Brake's death, and let his knowledge get to the ears of Brake's assailant! who cleverly got rid of him. That's my notion," concluded the detective. "And I shall be surprised if it isn't a correct one!"
"Collishaw?" "Nor that, neither," answered Folliot, hastily. "Maybe I know something about both, but neither you nor the police nor anybody could fasten me to either matter! Granting all you say to be true, where's the positive truth?" "What about circumstantial evidence," asked Bryce. "You'd have a job to get it," retorted Folliot. "Supposing that all you say is true about about past matters?
"Part of his game if that theory's right," murmured Mitchington. "It mayn't be right," said Jettison. "But it's one. And there's another supposing he paid Collishaw that money on behalf of somebody else? I've thought this business out right and left, top-side and bottom-side, and hang me if I don't feel certain there is somebody else!
Since when were you taken into the confidence of Mitchington and the mysterious person from London?" "You know as well as I do that I have been dragged into the case against my wishes," answered Bryce almost sullenly. "I was fetched to Braden I saw him die. It was I who found Collishaw dead.
If I were only certain that those rumours about what Collishaw hinted he could say had got to Ransford's ears! why, then " "What's being done about that post-mortem?" asked Bryce. "Dr. Coates and Dr. Everest are going to do it this afternoon," replied Mitchington. "The Coroner went to them at once, as soon as I told him." "They'll probably have to call in an expert from London," said Bryce.
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