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Page 74
Mitchington laughed a little awkwardly.
"Oh, well, come, now, doctor!" he said. "Why, yes--frankly,
I'm inclined to Jettison's theory--in fact, I'm certain that's
the truth."
"And your theory," inquired Ransford, turning to the
detective, "is--put it in a few words."
"My theory--and I'll lay anything it's the correct one!--is
this," replied Jettison. "Brake came to Wrychester with his
secret. That secret wasn't confined to him and Glassdale
--either he let it out to somebody, or it was known to
somebody. I understand from Inspector Mitchington here that
on the evening of his arrival Brake was away from the Mitre
Hotel for two hours. During that time, he was somewhere--with
whom? Probably with somebody who got the secret out of him,
or to whom he communicated it. For, think!--according to
Glassdale, who, we are quite sure, has told the exact truth
about everything, Brake had on him a scrap of paper, on which
were instructions, in Latin, for finding the exact spot
whereat the missing Saxonsteade jewels had been hidden, years
before, by the actual thief--who, I may tell you, sir, never
had the opportunity of returning to re-possess himself of
them. Now, after Brake's death, the police examined his
clothes and effects--they never found that scrap of paper!
And I work things out this way. Brake was followed into that
gallery--a lonely, quiet place--by the man or men who had got
possession of the secret; he was, I'm told, a slightly-built,
not over-strong man--he was seized and robbed of that paper
and flung to his death. 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!"
"And, as I've said, doctor," chimed in Mitchington, "can't you
give us a bit of information, now? You see the line we're on?
Now, as it's evident you once knew Braden, or Brake--"
"I have never said so!" interrupted Ransford sharply.
"Well--we infer it, from the undoubted fact that he called
here," remarked Mitchington. "And if--"
"Wait!" said Ransford. He had been listening with absorbed
attention to Jettison's theory, and he now rose from his chair
and began to pace the room, hands in pockets, as if in deep
thought. Suddenly he paused and looked at Mitchington. "This
needs some reflection," he said. "Are you pressed for time?"
"Not in the least," answered Mitchington, readily. "Our
time's yours, sir. Take as long as you like."
Ransford touched a bell and summoning the parlourmaid told her
to fetch whisky, soda, and cigars. He pressed these things on
the two men, lighted a cigar himself, and for a long time
continued to walk up and down his end of the room, smoking and
evidently in very deep thought. The visitors left him alone,
watching him curiously now and then--until, when quite ten
minutes had gone by, he suddenly drew a chair close to them
and sat down again.
"Now, listen to me!" he said. "If I give my confidence to
you, as police officials, will you give me your word that you
won't make use of my information until I give you leave--or
until you have consulted me further? I shall rely on your
word, mind!"
"I say yes to that, doctor," answered Mitchington.
"The same here, sir," said the detective.
"Very well," continued Ransford. "Then--this is between
ourselves, until such time as I say something more about it.
First of all, I am not going to tell you anything whatever
about Braden's antecedents--at present! Secondly--I am not
sure that your theory, Mr. Jettison, is entirely correct,
though I think it is by way of coming very near to the right
one--which is sure to be worked out before long. But--on the
understanding of secrecy for the present I can tell you
something which I should not have been able to tell you but
for the events of tonight, which have made me put together
certain facts. Now attention! To begin with, I know where
Braden was for at any rate some time on the evening of the day
on which he came to Wrychester. He was with the old man whom
we all know as Simpson Harker."
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